UPDATED 07.07.2022

EGDF celebrates record breaking EU funding for European video game industry 

EU funding for the games industry is one of the focus areas of EGDF in its advocacy work in Brussels. In 2022, the European Union will invest roughly 18 million on funding calls dedicated explicitly to the games industry and more than 40 million on other games industry-related calls. In particular, EGDF celebrates the return of Creative Europe funding for video game development and the launch of the MediaInvest fund.

Creative Europe funding for video game development is crucial for game developers located in the Member States that do not have a public funding instrument for video game development. Furthermore, EGDF hopes that a new focus on VR and other immersive content will help to make Europe once again an artistic and cultural pathfinder of humanity’s digital future. 

MediaInvest fund will be the first dedicated funding instrument for venture capital investment funds focused on Europan media sectors. EGDF hopes that the new instrument will significantly contribute to scaling national games industry-focused investment funds to the European level and encourage them to make more small high-risk investments to early-stage game developer studios across the Union. 

For more information, please contact: Jari-Pekka Kaleva, EGDF Managing Director, Jari-Pekka.Kaleva(a)egdf.eu

If you are looking for European trade associations interested in joining EU project consortiums, please visit: https://www.egdf.eu/euprojects/ 

If you are:

• A game developer studio or publishers, please have a closer look on:
  • 0.EIB/EIF funding;
  • 1.1. Creative Europe European co-development funding;
  • 1.2. Creative Europe Video games and immersive content funding below
• A venture capital investor, please have a closer look on:
  • 0.EIB/EIF funding;
  • 1.6 Mediainvest funding below
  • 10 InvestEU Equity
• A trade association representing game developer studios or publishers, please have a closer look on:
  • 1.3 Creative Europe Fostering European media talent and skills funding;
  • 1.4 Creative Europe Markets and networking funding;
  • 1.5 Creative Europe Innovative tools and business models funding below
  • 4.3 Digital Europe Short term training courses in key capacity areas
  • 5.1 Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs funding
  • 7 Interreg Program
  • 8.1 Social innovations for a fair green and digital transition
  • 10 InvestEU Equity
• A games industry events organiser, please have a closer look on:
  • 1.3 Creative Europe Fostering European media talent and skills funding;
  • 1.4 Creative Europe Markets and networking funding below
  • 9 STARTS – Art and the digital: Unleashing creativity for European industry, regions, and society
• A games research institution, please have a closer look on:
  • 2.1 Horizon Europe Games and culture shaping our society funding;
  • 2.2 Horizon Europe Enhanced fight against the abuse of online gaming culture by extremists funding;
  • 2.3 Horizon Europe EIC Pathfinder Open 2022
  • 3.2 Erasmus +  Alliances for Innovation funding below
  • 7 Interreg Program
  • 8.1 Social innovations for a fair green and digital transition
  • 9 STARTS – Art and the digital: Unleashing creativity for European industry, regions, and society
• A higher education institution providing degree programs on game development, please have a closer look on:
  • 3.1 Erasmus + Partnerships for Cooperation funding;
  • 3.2 Erasmus +  Alliances for Innovation funding below
  • 4.2 Digital Europe – Promoting European innovation in education
  • 4.3 Digital Europe – Short term training courses in key capacity areas
  • 5.1 Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs funding
  • 7 Interreg Program
  • 8.1 Social innovations for a fair green and digital transition

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0. EIB/EIF

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If you are a game developer studio or publisher looking for applying loans or venture capital supported by the European Union, please visit http://www.access2finance.eu

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1. Creative Europe

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Creative Europe brings together actions supporting the European cultural and creative sectors. In 2022, the following countries are taking part to the programme: 

• FULLY PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES: EU Member States and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, which are also members of the European Economic Area (EEA). In 2022 : Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. These can FULLY participate across all strands of Creative Europe.
• FULL (PROVISIONAL) PARTICIPATION: In the begin of 2022, the participation of following countries is subject to the signature of a participation agreement: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey. These countries have full (provisional) participation across all strands of Creative Europe in 2022.
• PARTIALLY PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES:  Countries participating partly in the earlier programme (2014-2020) i.e. Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Tunisia, Ukraine and other countries i.e. Algeria, Israel, Morocco, Palestine. Also, Faroe Islands, in accordance with the conditions laid down in a specific agreement. These can only PARTIALLY participate in the MEDIA and CROSS strands of Creative Europe.

For more information please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/culture/document/2022-annual-work-programme-creative-europe-programme

The following summaries of upcoming calls are made base on the Creative Europe Work programme for 2022. The final funding conditions and criteria will be published when the funding calls will be opened. 

1.1 – EUROPEAN CO-DEVELOPMENT FUNDING 

• What the funding can be used for? 
  • This instrument might be in particularly interesting for VR game developers co-operating with film industry. 
  • European co-development funding is aimed at co-operative efforts between film industry and / or creators of immersive works (e.g. VR content). 
• Who can apply? (cumulative conditions):
  • Entities established in and owned by people from one of the countries participating FULLY in the MEDIA strand. Natural persons may not apply for a grant except self-employed persons or equivalent where the company does not possess legal personality separate from that of the natural person.
  • Independent European audiovisual production companies: An independent company is a company which is not, directly or indirectly, majority controlled by an audiovisual media service provider, either in shareholding or commercial terms.
• How much funding will be available: 
  • Total call budget is EUR 6.000.000
  • Maximum possible rate of EU co-financing is 50% of total eligible costs.
  • Maximum EU grant per coordinator and eligible partner is EUR 60.000.
  • Projects should not normally exceed 30 months
• When?
  • Call opening:18 May 2022
  • Deadline for submission: 08 September 2022 17:00:00 Brussels time
• For more information please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/crea-media-2022-codev

1.2 – VIDEO GAMES AND IMMERSIVE CONTENT DEVELOPMENT – Closed

• What the funding can be used for? 
  • This instrument might be in particularly interesting for game developer studios. 
  • Aimed at video game development studios to increase their capacity to develop video games and interactive immersive experiences with the potential to reach global audiences, as well as improve the competitiveness of the European video games industry and other companies producing interactive immersive content in European and international markets by enabling the retention of intellectual property.
  • The applicant company must own the majority of the rights related to the project.
  • The following projects are ineligible (both as previous work and as work submitted for funding): puzzle games, memory games, sports games, racing games, running games,rhythm/singing/dancing games, social games, quiz games, party games,versus-fighting games, word and spelling games, number games, mind games,even if they have a narrative element. Check full list in section 6 of this document
• Who can apply? (cumulative conditions):
  • Entities established and owned by people in one of the countries participating FULLY in the MEDIA strand. Natural persons may not apply for a grant except self-employed persons or equivalent (i.e. sole traders) where the company does not possess legal personality separate from that of the natural person.
  • A Company whose main objective and activity is video game production/development, (entertainment) software development or audiovisual production (or equivalent)and can demonstrate recent experience in producing commercially distributed eligible works. I.e, able to provide a relevant sales report showing sales in the period between 01/01/2019 and the date of the deadline for submission.
  • Publishing companies are not eligible.
• How much funding will be available: 
  • Total call budget is EUR 6.000.000 
  • Maximum possible rate of EU co-financing is 50% of total eligible costs
  • The maximum EU grant per project is EUR 150.000.
  • Pre-financing rate is normally 70% of the grant amount
  • Projects should not normally exceed 36 months (extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment).
• When?
  • Call opening: 3 February 2022
  • Deadline for submission: 12 April 2022 – 17:00:00 CET (Brussels)
• For more information please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/crea-media-2022-devvgim

1.3 – FOSTERING EUROPEAN MEDIA TALENTS AND SKILLS – Closed

• What the funding can be used for? 
  • This instrument might be in particularly interesting for games industry trade associations and event organisers. 
  • Aimed, among other, at video game development studios, publishers, trade organizations, game industry events and local clusters, for fostering talents and skills of the audiovisual sector professionals. Particular focus on the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills, and awareness on market and digital technologies developments, data analytics, sustainable business models, internationalisation, marketing, promotion, and audience development.
• Who can apply? 
  • Entities (private companies, non-profit organisations, associations, charities, foundations, municipalities/Town Councils, etc.), established in one of the countries participating, FULLY or PARTIALLY in the MEDIA strand. Natural persons may not apply for a grant except self-employed persons or equivalent (i.e. sole traders) where the company does not possess legal personality separate from that of the natural person. Applicants shall ensure that a majority of the participants in the proposed training, capacity building and networking activities are of a nationality other than that of the applicant.
• How much funding will be available: 
  • Total call budget is EUR 20.366.966
  • Maximum possible rate of EU co-financing is 80% of total eligible costs.
  • Indirect cost flat-rate: 7% of the eligible direct costs
  • Projects should not normally exceed 36 months (extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment).
• When?
  • Call opening:  10 February 2022
  • Deadline for submission: 04 May 2022 17:00:00 Brussels time
• For more information please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/crea-media-2022-training

1.4. – MARKETS & NETWORKING – Closed

• What the funding can be used for? 
  • This instrument might be in particularly interesting for games industry trade associations and event organisers.
  • Aimed, among other, at video game development studios, publishers, trade organizations, game industry events and local clusters developing initiatives that work:
    • to encourage B2B exchanges among European audiovisual professionals, by facilitating access to physical and online markets
    • to include industry events focused on contents and/or the uptake of new technologies and business models, as long as they can make an impact on visibility and sales of European works;
    • to value environmental-friendly approaches;
• Who can apply? Entities (private companies, non-profit organisations, associations, charities, foundations, municipalities/Town Councils, etc.), established in one of the countries participating FULLY or PARTIALLY in the MEDIA strand. Natural persons may not apply for a grant except self-employed persons or equivalent (i.e. sole traders) where the company does not possess legal personality separate from that of the natural person.
• How much funding will be available: 
  • Total call budget is EUR 13.000.000 
  • Maximum possible rate of co-financing is 60% of total eligible costs.
  • Projects should not normally exceed 24 months (extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment).
• When?
  • Call opening: 22 February 2022
  • Deadline for submission: 28 June 2022 17:00:00 Brussels time
• For more information please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/crea-media-2022-marketnet

1.5 – INNOVATIVE TOOLS AND BUSINESS MODELS – Closed

• What the funding can be used for? 
  • This instrument might be in particularly interesting for games industry trade associations. 
  • he aim is to support, among other, video game development studios, publishers, trade organizations, game industry events and local clusters developing projects focusing on tools and/or business models that adress the specific challenges of the audiovisual sector such as discoverability, sequencing of release windows, financing, transparency, data collection, the appropriate use of big data and territoriality in order to enable strong and visible offers of European works online and across borders to a wide public.
• Who can apply? Applicants must be entities established and owned by people in one of the countries participating FULLY in the MEDIA strand. Natural persons may not apply for a grant except self-employed persons or equivalent (i.e. sole traders) where the company does not possess legal personality separate from that of the natural person.
• How much funding will be available: 
  • Total call budget is EUR 7.000.000
  • Maximum possible rate of co-financing is 60% of total eligible costs.
  • Prefinancing rate is normally 40% of the maximum grant amount
• Projects should not normally exceed 36 months (extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment).
• When?
  • Call opening: 03 February 2022
  • Deadline for submission: 07 April 2022 17:00:00 Brussels time
• For more information please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/crea-media-2022-innovbusmod

1.6. – MEDIAINVEST – INVESTMENT TO FOSTER EUROPEAN AUDIO-VISUAL PRODUCTIONS AND DISTRIBUTION

• What the funding can be used for? 
  • This instrument might be in particularly interesting for games industry focused investment funds. 
  • Aimed at investment funds to provide enhanced access to finance for audiovisual companies including game development studios active in the production and distribution of content in their start-up, growth and transfer phases through an equity financial tool, blending funds from Creative Europe MEDIA, Invest EU and private investment.
• How much funding will be available: 
  • Total call budget is EUR 16.000.000
• When?
  • Call opening: To be confirmed
  • Deadline for submission: To be confirmed

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2. Horizon Europe

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Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation.

2.1 – HORIZON-CL2-2022-HERITAGE-01-09: Games and culture shaping our society – Closed

• What the funding can be used for? 
  • This instrument might be in particularly interesting for games research focused universities. 
  • Projects should contribute to at least two of the following expected outcomes:
    • Evidence of the impact of games on European society, including their cultural value and risks.
    • Evidence of the innovation potential of games and play (on-line or other).
    • New knowledge on the role of the games industry and non-commercial creative practices in the EU to benefit society.
    • Improved knowledge of legal and intellectual property rights issues linked to the gaming population and games industry in the international markets.
    • Proposals for improving games in terms of positive impact on education, skillsets, responsible business models, employment chances, social cohesion and creativity.
• Who can apply:
  • The applicants must:
    • be legal entities like among other game developer studios, publishers, game education/research institutions, games trade associations
    • be established in one of the following:
      • EU Member States
      • Countries associated to Horizon Europe (includes Norway and UK);
      • For a full list of the eligible countries, check Section 8 of this document
    • Relevant stakeholders, including CCIs (Cultural and creative Industry), other creatives, non-commercial interests and policy makers, should be involved to ensure the research and results respond well to the needs.
• How much funding is available and under what conditions? 
  • Total call budget is EUR 9 000 000
  • Max funding rate is 100% plus indirect cost flat-rate of 25% of the eligible direct costs (excluding eligible direct costs for subcontracting, financial support to third parties and any unit costs or lump sums which include indirect costs).
  • Normally, pre financing corresponds to the maximum grant amount divided by number of reporting periods. For actions with only one reporting period, it will be less, since 100% would mean the totality of the grant amount.
  • Budget-based, mixed actual cost grant. For more information, please visit Annex G here https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2021-2022/wp-13-general-annexes_horizon-2021-2022_en.pdf
  • The grant parameters (maximum grant amount, funding rate, total eligible costs, etc.) will be fixed in the specific grant agreement
• When?
  • Call opening: 20 January 2022
  • Deadline for submission: 20 April 2022 – 17:00:00 Brussels time
• For more information please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-cl2-2022-heritage-01-09

2.2 – HORIZON-CL3-2022-FCT-01-03: Enhanced fight against the abuse of online gaming culture by extremists

• What the funding can be used for? 
  • This instrument might be in particularly interesting for game developer studios and publishers collaborating with law enforcement agencies. 
  • The call is aiming at Activities that promote:
    • Enhanced knowledge on the use of online gaming culture and structure by violent extremists as well as their modus operandi through video game chatrooms, used as their recruitment tools;
    • Better, innovative and validated tools and training curricula that European Police Authorities can benefit from and use to tackle violent radicalisation through online gaming culture;
    • Increased awareness of citizens about online radicalisation through gaming culture;
    • Enhanced protection of youth in the gaming environment against recruitment into violent radicalisation;
    • Improved shared understanding and cooperation between different actors involved, including security practitioners, gaming industry, social media, video game hosting services and civil society;
    • Improved shaping and tuning by security policy-makers of regulation on preventing abuse of online gaming culture by violent extremists.
• Who can apply? The applicants must:
  • be legal entities like, among other, game developer studios, game education/research institutions, games trade associations, with good connections with Police authorities.
  • be established in one of the following:
    • EU Member States
    • Countries associated to Horizon Europe (includes Norway and UK);
    • For a full list of the eligible countries, check Section 8 of this document
  • Additionally, this topic requires the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 3 Police Authorities(check Topic conditions and documents of call for definition) from at least 3 different EU Member States or Associated countries.
• How much funding is available and under what conditions? 
  • Total call budget is EUR 3 000 000
  • Max funding rate is 100% plus indirect cost flat-rate of 25% of the eligible direct costs (excluding eligible direct costs for subcontracting, financial support to third parties and any unit costs or lump sums which include indirect costs).
  • Normally, pre financing corresponds to the maximum grant amount divided by number of reporting periods. For actions with only one reporting period, it will be less, since 100% would mean the totality of the grant amount.
  • Budget-based, mixed actual cost grant. For more information, please visit Annex G here https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2021-2022/wp-13-general-annexes_horizon-2021-2022_en.pdf
  • The grant parameters (maximum grant amount, funding rate, total eligible costs, etc.) will be fixed in the specific grant agreement
• When? 
  • Call opening: 30 June 2022
  • Deadline for submission: 23 November 2022 – 17:00:00 Brussels time
• For more information please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-cl3-2022-fct-01-03

 

2.3 – HORIZON-EIC-2022-PATHFINDEROPEN-01: EIC Pathfinder Open 2022 – Closed

• What the funding can be used for? 
  • This instrument might be particularly interesting for games research focused universities/organisations, game startups or SMEs. 
  • You should apply to this call if you are looking to realise an ambitious vision for radically new technology(TRL 1-4), with potential to create new markets and/or to address global challenges. Early stage development of such future technologies, based on high-risk/high-gain science-towards-technology breakthrough research (including ‘deep-tech’). This research must provide the foundations of the technology you are envisioning.
  • Proposal should meet all of the following essential characteristics:
    • Convincing long-term vision of a radically new technology that has the potential to have a transformative positive effect on our economy and society.
    • Concrete, novel and ambitious science-towards-technology breakthrough, providing advancement towards the envisioned technology.
    • High-risk/high-gain research approach and methodology, with concrete and plausible objectives.
• Who can apply:
  • The applicants must:
    • Be consortia of at least three different independent legal entities, like game education/research institutions, games trade associations, game developer studios and publishers, established in at least three different eligible countries with at least one of them established in a Member State. 
    • be established in one of the following:
      • EU Member States
      • Countries associated to Horizon Europe (includes Norway and UK);
      • For a full list of the eligible countries, check Annex 3 of this document
• How much funding is available and under what conditions? 
  • Total call budget is EUR 183 000 000
  • Grants of up to EUR 3 million, or more if properly justified
  • Max funding rate is 100% plus indirect cost flat-rate of 25% of the eligible direct costs (excluding eligible direct costs for subcontracting, financial support to third parties and any unit costs or lump sums which include indirect costs).
  • Budget-based grant. For more information, please visit Section 5.4 here.
• When? 
  • Call opening: 01 March 2022
  • Deadline for submission: 04 May 2022 17:00:00 Brussels time

Find more information here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-eic-2022-pathfinderopen-01-01;callCode=null;freeTextSearchKeyword=eic%20pathfinder;matchWholeText=true;typeCodes=1,2,8;statusCodes=31094501,31094502 

2.4 – HORIZON-EIC-2022-RisingInnovatorsPrize & HORIZON-EIC-2022-WomenInnovatorsPrize: EU Prize for Women Innovators

• Who can be awarded? 
  • The EU Prize for Women Innovators celebrates the women entrepreneurs behind game changing innovations. The Prize is awarded to the women innovators who have created the largest impact on the innovation ecosystem by transforming ideas into new and advanced products and/or services to benefit people and the planet.
  • If admissible and eligible, all eligible applications will be evaluated and ranked against the following award criteria:
    • Breakthrough innovation – the company founded or co-founded by the applicant provides a truly innovative product or service in the EU market. In presenting their innovation, the applicant will demonstrate what makes this product or service unique, in relation to other existing solutions.
    • Impact – the product or service addresses a specific societal need or challenge, with significant benefits for people and/or planet. The applicant must support their answer with numerical data including performance measures and indicators.
    • Inspiration – the applicant has personally played a pivotal role in the success of the company, and has the power to lead and inspire other women and girls. The applicant should explain why they consider themselves a strong role model with the power to lead and inspire other women and girls.

• Who can apply:
  • The applicants must:
    • Be a woman
    • Be an ordinary resident in an EU Member State (including overseas countries and territories, OCTs) or a country associated to Horizon Europe
    • Be the founder or co-founder of an active innovative company registered at least two years before the call year
    • Have NOT already received an EU or Euratom prize for the same activities. In addition to the above, those applying for the Rising Innovator category must be under 35 at the start of the call year
    • In both categories, two or more women co-founders of a single company may submit a joint application provided they all meet the eligibility criteria, competing for one single category prize
• How much funding is available and under what conditions? 
  • Total call budget is EUR 150 000 for Rising Innovators and EUR 300 000 for Women Innovators
  • Three prizes of EUR 50 000 for RI and three of EUR 100 000 for WI
• When? 
  • Call opening: 08 March 2022
  • Deadline for submission: 18 August 2022 17:00:00 Brussels time

Find more information here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-eic-2022-risinginnovatorsprize and https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-eic-2022-womeninnovatorsprize

 

2.5 – Elevating the scalability potential of European business – Expanding Investments Ecosystems (HORIZON-EIE-2022-SCALEUP-01)

• What the funding can be used for? 
  • This instrument might be particularly interesting for local and regional clusters, such as incubators, accelerators, company-builders, innovation agencies, business clubs and networks, public and private VCs and their networks, national and regional promotional banks. 
  • Actions that:
    • Increase access to capital and investments in less connected innovation ecosystems, enhancing their openness, competitiveness, and global potential;
    • Increase venture investments and enable late-stage growth of local start-ups in less connected and developing innovation ecosystems;
    • Facilitate investors’ access to the flow of local deals;
    • Improve investors’ knowledge on regulatory frameworks and networks to support joint cross-border ventures in new markets.
    • co-design programmes of activities, of at least two years, proposed by business acceleration service providers and/or investor networks and clubs, located in less connected innovation ecosystems, to facilitate the entry of funders in less connected innovation ecosystems through activities, for example:
      • market orientation / introduction programmes for European investors, including establishment of central points of information for foreign investors providing them with knowledge on the ecosystem’s establishment conditions, incentives, tax and legislation;
      • assistance to foreign EU and international investors / Venture Capitalists, including women investors, during the whole process of investment, from the pre-entry stage until the exit, by ensuring support in administrative, legal, linguistic and cultural issues;
      • organisation of European and worldwide international business forums, conferences and events to attract and connect international with local investors;
      • peer-matching of investors and other networking activities to encourage joint ventures;
      • a repository of best practices of market entry facilitation for international investors;
      • a list of recommendations for local authorities and European regulators to better address investors’ entry challenges and facilitate cross-border deals.
• Who can apply:
  • The applicants must:
    • Be consortia of at least three different independent legal entities, of which at least one is established in ‘modest’ or ‘moderate’ innovator region and at least one in ‘strong’ or ‘innovation leader’ innovator region. Regional Innovation Scoreboard is taken as a reference, and in the case of entities representing national authorities, the European Innovation Scoreboard. Check the call for more info on countries not included in those scoreboards.
    • be established in one of the following:
      • EU Member States
      • Countries associated to Horizon Europe (includes Norway and UK);
      • For a full list of the eligible countries, check Section 8 of this document
• How much funding is available and under what conditions? 
  • Total call budget is EUR 5 000 000. Roughly 1 000 000 per project
  • This call refers to a lump sum grant.
• When? 
  • Call opening: 21 June 2022
  • Deadline for submission: 04 October 2022 17:00:00 Brussels time

Find more information here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-eie-2022-scaleup-02-01 

 

2.6 – Elevating the scalability potential of European business (2022.2) – Women TechEU (HORIZON-EIE-2022-SCALEUP-02)

• What the funding can be used for? 
  • This instrument might be particularly interesting for highly innovative start-ups working with game related deep tech(cutting edge research adjacent) and founded, or co-founded by women holding a top management position (CEO, CTO or equivalent) in the company. 
  • Support deep tech innovation as a basis for a modern, knowledge-driven, resource-efficient and competitive economy;
  • Promote female leadership in the deep tech industry to build fairer, more inclusive, and more prosperous innovation ecosystems in Europe
• Who can apply:
  • The applicants must:
    • Be consortia of at least three different independent legal entities, like game education/research institutions, games trade associations, game developer studios and publishers, established in at least three different eligible countries with at least one of them established in a Member State. 
    • be established in one of the following:
      • EU Member States
      • Countries associated to Horizon Europe (includes Norway and UK);
      • For a full list of the eligible countries, check Section 8 of this document
• How much funding is available and under what conditions? 
  • Total call budget is EUR 10 000 000
  • Financial support to the company as an individual grant of EUR 75 000
  • This call refers to a lump sum grant
• When? 
  • Call opening: 21 June 2022
  • Deadline for submission: 04 October 2022 17:00:00 Brussels time

Find more information here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-eie-2022-scaleup-02-02  

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3. Erasmus+ 

3.1 Erasmus + Partnerships for Cooperation

This action enables participating organisations to gain experience in international cooperation and to strengthen their capacities. In 2022, partnerships for cooperation must address one or more of the following horizontal priority areas:

• Inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport
• Environment and fight against climate change
• Addressing digital transformation through development of digital readiness, resilience and capacity
• Common values, civic engagement and participation

In addition to the general priorities mentioned above, specific priorities in the fields of higher education, school education, vocational education and training, adult education, and youth will be pursued in their respective sectors (check pages 201-206 of this document for the full list).

Two types of partnerships are offered to organisations for working, learning and growing together:

• Cooperation Partnerships
• Small-scale Partnerships

3.1.1 ERASMUS-SPORT-2022-SCP Cooperation Partnerships (closed except for Non-European NGO projects starting between 1 January and 31 August of the following year.)

• What the funding can be used for?
  • Cooperation Partnerships are aimed at activities that:
    • Increase quality in the work, activities and practices of organisations and institutions involved, opening up to new actors, not naturally included within one sector;
    • Build capacity of organisations to work transnationally and across sectors;
    • Address common needs and priorities in the fields of education, training, youth and sport;
    • Enable transformation and change (at individual, organisational or sectoral level), leading to improvements and new approaches, in proportion to the context of each organisation.Cooperation Partnerships are aimed at activities that:
  • To be considered for funding, Cooperation Partnerships must address either:
    • at least one horizontal priority and/or
      
    • at least one specific priority relevant to the field of education, training, youth and sport that is mostly impacted (check pages 200-206 of this document)
  • All the activities of a Cooperation Partnership must take place in the countries of the organisations participating in the project (check page 209 of this document for exceptions  in venue of the activities).
• Who can apply?
  • Developers, publishers, local clusters, trade associations and education institutions active in any field of education, training, youth, sport or other socio-economic sectors as well as organisations carrying out activities that are transversal to different fields. Cooperation Partnerships should involve the most appropriate and diverse range of partners, and a minimum of three organisations from three different EU Member States and third countries associated with the Programme (check page 31-34 of this document).
  • Coordinators must be a legal entity in:
    • EU Member States
    • Countries associated with the programme (Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, North Macedonia, Turkey and Serbia). This is subject to the signature of the Association Agreements between the European Union and those countries;
  • Partner organizations can be legal entities in:
    • Almost all countries. For a full list of the eligible countries, check page 31-34 of this document;
    • Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City State, Faroe Islands, Switzerland, Belarus and the UK can not participate.
• How much funding is available and under what conditions? 
  • Max funding rate is a choice between 3 single lump sums, corresponding to the total grant amount for the project: 120 000 EUR, 250 000 EUR and 400 000 EUR.
  • Project budgets are expected to be complemented with other funding sources, therefore the expected overall cost of the project shall be higher than the fixed lump sum amount requested. 
  • The condition for the full payment of the grant is the completion of all the activities in line with the quality criteria described in the application.
  • National Agencies or the Executive Agency may decide to split the first pre-financing payment into more installments. They may also decide to reduce the pre-financing or not pay any pre-financing at all, if the financial capacity of the beneficiary is deemed weak. 
  • Project duration: Between 12 and 36 months (may be extended)
• When? 
  • Call opening: 20 January 2022
  • Deadline for submission for Partnerships in the fields of education, training and youth with the exception of European NGOs: 
    • 23 March at 12:00:00 (midday Brussels time) for projects starting between 1 September and 31 December of the same year
    • 4 October at 12:00:00 (midday Brussels time) for projects starting between 1 January and 31 August of the following year.
  • Deadline for submission for European NGOs:
    • 23 March at 17:00:00 (Brussels time), for projects starting from 1st of February of the following year.
      
• For more information please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/erasmus-sport-2022-scp

3.1.3 ERASMUS-SPORT-2022-SSCP Small-Scale Partnerships (closed except for projects starting between 1 January and 31 August of 2023)

• What the funding can be used for?
  • Besides the same objectives as cooperation partnerships (see above), small-scale partnerships also aim at activities that:
    • Attract and widen access for newcomers, less experienced organisations and small-scale actors to the programme. These partnerships should act as a first step for organisations into cooperation at European level.
    • Support the inclusion of target groups with fewer opportunities.
    • Support active European citizenship and bring the European dimension to the local level.
    • To be considered for funding, small-scale Partnerships must address either:
      • at least one horizontal priority and/or
      • at least one specific priority relevant to the field of education, training, youth and sport that is mostly impacted (check pages 200-206 of this document)
    • All the activities of a Cooperation Partnership must take place in the countries of the organisations participating in the project (check page 217 of this document for exceptions in venue of the activities).
• Who can apply?
  • Developers, publishers, local clusters, trade associations and education institutions active in any field of education, training, youth, sport or other socio-economic sectors as well as organisations carrying out activities that are transversal to different fields. Cooperation Partnerships should involve the most appropriate and diverse range of partners, and a minimum of two organisations from two different EU Member States and third countries associated with the Programme(check page 31-34 of this document).
  • Coordinators must be legal entity in:
    • EU Member States
    • Countries associated with the programme (Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, North Macedonia, Turkey and Serbia). This is subject to the signature of the Association Agreements between the European Union and those countries;
  • Partner organizations can be legal entities in:
    • Almost all countries. For a full list of the eligible countries, check page 31-34 of this document;
    • Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City State, Faroe Islands, Switzerland, Belarus and the UK can not participate
• How much funding is available and under what conditions? 
  • Max funding rate is a choice between 2 single lump sums: 30 000 EUR, and 60 000 EUR. 
  • Project budgets are expected to be complemented with other funding sources, therefore the expected overall cost of the project shall be higher than the fixed lump sum amount requested.
  • National Agencies or the Executive Agency may decide to split the first pre-financing payment into more installments. They may also decide to reduce the pre-financing or not pay any pre-financing at all, if the financial capacity of the beneficiary is deemed weak.
  • Project duration: Between 6 and 24 months (may be extended).
• When? 
  • Call opening: 20 January 2022
  • Deadline for submission for Partnerships in the fields of vocational education and training, school education, adult education and youth: 
    • By 23 March at 12:00:00 (midday Brussels time) for projects starting between 1 September and 31 December of the same year and.
    • By 4 October 12:00:00 (midday Brussels time) for projects starting between 1 January and 31 August of the following year.
• For more information, please visit:https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/erasmus-sport-2022-sscp

3.2 Erasmus + Alliances for Innovation

3.2.1 ERASMUS-EDU-2022-PI-ALL-INNO Alliances for Education and Enterprises

• What the funding can be used for?
  • Alliances for Education and Enterprises intend to achieve one or more of the following aims:
    • Fostering new, innovative and multidisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning: fostering innovation in education design and delivery, teaching methods, assessment techniques, learning environments and/or developing new skills;
    • Fostering corporate social responsibility (e.g. equity, inclusion, climate change, environmental protection and sustainable development);
    • Stimulating a sense of initiative and entrepreneurial attitudes, mind-sets and skills in learners, educational staff and other workers, in line with the Entrepreneurship Competence Framework (EntreComp);
    • Improving the quality and relevance of skills developed and certified through education and training systems (including new skills and tackling skills mismatches);
    • Facilitating the flow and co-creation of knowledge between higher education and vocational education and training, research, the public sector and the business sector;
    • Building and supporting effective and efficient higher education and vocational education and training systems, which are connected and inclusive, and contribute to innovation
  • At least one of the following activities (full list in pages 263-264 of this document) must be included:
    • Boosting innovation
    • Developing a sense of initiative and entrepreneurial mind-sets, competences and skills
    • Stimulating the flow and exchange of knowledge between higher education, VET, enterprises and research
    • Identifying resilience-related, market needs and emerging professions
• Who can apply?
  • Who can participate?
    • Higher education institutions, VET providers, game developers, publishers, game research institutes, local/regional/national clusters, and trade associations, etc. (check page 260 of this document for the full list). 
    • Alliances for Education and Enterprises must cover at least 4 EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme, involving a minimum of 8 full partners. The partnership must include at least 3 labour market actors (companies, or chambers, trade unions or trade associations) and at least 3 education and training providers, as full partners. There should be at least one HE institution and one VET provider involved as full partner in each proposal.
  • Any full partner must legally established in: 
    • EU Member States
    • Countries associated with the programme (Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, North Macedonia, Turkey and Serbia). This is subject to the signature of the Association Agreements between the European Union and those countries;
    • Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City State, Faroe Islands, Switzerland, Belarus and the UK can not participate.
• How much funding is available and under what conditions? 
  • The maximum EU grant per project is as follows:
    • 1 million euros for 2 year projects
    • 1,5 million euros for 3 year projects
  • National Agencies or the Executive Agency may decide to split the first pre-financing payment into more installments. They may also decide to reduce the pre-financing or not pay any pre-financing at all, if the financial capacity of the beneficiary is deemed weak. 
• When?
  • Opening date: 25 November 2021
  • Deadline for submission: 15 September at 17:00:00 (Brussels time).
• For more information, please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/erasmus-edu-2022-pi-all-inno-edu-enterp

3.2.1 ERASMUS-EDU-2022-PI-ALL-INNOAlliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills (implementing the “Blueprint”)

• What the funding can be used for?
  • Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills aim to:
    • Create new strategic approaches and cooperation for concrete skills development solutions – both in the short and the medium term – in given economic sectors, or in areas implementing a major action of the European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience, the Pact for Skills.
    • Mobilise and incentivize all relevant stakeholders to take concrete actions for the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, by pooling efforts and setting up partnerships, also at EU level addressing the needs of the labour market, supporting green and digital transitions as well as national, regional and local skills and growth strategies.
    • Tackle skills gaps on the labour market that hamper growth, innovation and competitiveness in specific sectors or areasAlliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills aim to:
  • The following activities must be implemented:
    • Developing a strategic approach to sectoral cooperation on skills
    • Designing European sector-wide agreed ‘core’ curricula and training programmes
    • Delivering the ‘core’ curricula and training programmes
    • Designing a long term action plan for the progressive roll-out of project deliverables after the project has finished
• Who can apply?
  • Who can participate?
    • Higher education institutions, VET providers, game developers, publishers, game research institutes, local/regional/national clusters, and trade associations(check page 260 of this document for the full list).
    • Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills (Blueprint) must cover at least 8 EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme and involve at least 12 full partners. The partnership must include at least 5 labour market actors (companies, or chambers, trade unions or trade associations) and at least 5 education and training providers as full partners. There should be at least one HE institution and one VET provider involved as full partner in each proposal.
  • Who can apply? Any full partner legally established in: 
    • EU Member States
    • Countries associated with the programme (Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, North Macedonia, Turkey and Serbia). This is subject to the signature of the Association Agreements between the European Union and those countries;
    • Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City State, Faroe Islands, Switzerland, Belarus and the UK can not participate.
• How much funding is available and under what conditions? 
  • The maximum EU grant per project is as follows: 4 million euros (4 years project) – only one proposal per industrial ecosystem can be selected for funding. Alliances have to choose for their proposal the single industrial ecosystem which their project will address. Check page 262-263 of this document for the full list of ecosystems
  • At equal quality, a proposal covering an ecosystem that is not at all covered by an ongoing Blueprint Alliance will be assessed as more relevant than a proposal covering a part of an ecosystem where a Blueprint is already ongoing. The grant parameters (maximum grant amount, funding rate, total eligible costs, etc.) will be fixed in the specific Grant Agreement.
• When? 
  • Opening date: 25 November 2021
  • Deadline for submission: 15 September at 17:00:00 (Brussels time).
• For more information, please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/erasmus-edu-2022-pi-all-inno-blueprint

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7. Interreg Programs

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Interreg is one of the key instruments of the European Union (EU) supporting cross border, transnational and interregional cooperation through project funding. Its aim is to jointly tackle common challenges and find shared solutions in fields such as health, environment, research, education, transport, sustainable energy and more. Many of these programs are still in draft/approval state, so this information should be taken more as a call to look into these instruments, as this information may change and is incomplete at this moment.

7.1  Danube Transnational Programme (DTP)

The following are the priorities for the new period that might be relevant for EGDF members:

• A Smarter Danube Region

• Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies, specifically:

• • • • Support for transnational uptake of technologies alongside thematic value chains: specialisation in transnational Danube Region clusters for emerging industries, support for a higher level and new forms of collaboration to encourage co-inventions and innovation cooperation as well.

• Developing skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship

•  Skills development and cross-sectoral collaborations between smart industries and traditional types of industries for industrial transformation and transition towards industry 4.0, robotisation, mechatronics, digital technologies (including internet of things, artificial intelligence and creative industries).

• • • • Skills development for delivering products and services with transnational impact.

• A more social Danube Region

• Accessible, inclusive and effective labour markets

• • • Developing models to explore and demonstrate the effectiveness of remote working towards developing employment inclusiveness and meeting regional, social and economic goals;
    • Support for designing innovative policies and planning to retain skilled labour and a more sustainable migration of educated people (e. g. by introducing transnational study and RDI programmes, promoting innovative employment schemes suitable for the needs of the tertiary educated living in rural regions or regions significantly affected by this type of migration); 

 

On 13 December 2021, Member states approved the final draft version of the cooperation programme, taking another step forward in the programming process. You can read the draft programme here (version January 2022). Final adoption expected in June 2022.

For whom?

The Danube Transnational Programme (DTP) gathers one of the highest numbers of participating countries among all the Interreg programmes: 

• 9 EU countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany(Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria), Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia)
• 5 non-EU countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine – four provinces: Chernivetska Oblast, Ivano-Frankiviska Oblast, Zakarpatska Oblast and Odessa Oblast).

More info at: https://www.interreg-danube.eu/

7.2  Interreg Baltic Sea Region

Interreg Baltic Sea Region 2021-2027: next call for project applications planned for autumn 2022. 

The following are the priorities for the new period that might be relevant for EGDF members:

 

Priority 1: Innovative societies

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVE 1.1 – Resilient economies and communities

• Redesign smart specialisation approaches and redefine connections to global value chains to strengthen resilience of the Baltic Sea as a macro-region.
• Explore solutions to assist business with recovery following unexpected external disturbances, e.g. develop new or adapt existing business support programmes, implement efforts to diversify the industrial base, develop risk management tools for whole sectors (e.g. creative industries) and risk response strategies.
• Pilot actions that strengthen societal resilience through cultural change, behavioural shifts and mobilising creativity, e.g. promoting smart working solutions, testing mechanisms supporting vulnerable social groups.
• Pilot actions that strengthen cohesion and regional identity by using culture as means for social inclusion and social innovation.
• Pilot actions solving specific challenge in building resilience through better connections between research and regional innovation systems.

 

Priority 4: Cooperation governance

Objective 4.1 – Project Platforms

• Identify solutions developed by different Interreg and other EU funded projects relevant for the Baltic Sea region, structure them and make synthesis based on the needs of the target groups;
• Set up communication channels and learning tools to reach out to public authorities and other organisations to give them access to synthesis of solutions;
• Address policy-making needs on complex challenges that require solutions from different Interreg and other EU-funded programmes across different levels of governance and different sectors;
• Analyse know-how developed in research and innovation projects as well as experiences with investment projects co-financed from EU funds and combine them with the findings of Interreg projects;
• Introduce syntheses of solutions into the daily work of public authorities, specialised agencies and others organisations working in these thematic areas;
• Reach out to relevant policy and decision-making authorities and other organisations at the national and pan-Baltic level and provide them streamlined results from different Interreg and other EU-funded projects for more efficient development of policies and governance structures.

The Joint Programming Committee (JPC) supervising the programming decided on the final version of the Programme Document at its meeting end of September 2021. After the participating countries have approved the Document on the national level, the MA/JS submitted the Programme to the European Commission at the end of January 2022. We expect the Commission to approve the Programme by summer 2022. Here find the Programme Document submitted to the Commission

For whom?

EU Member States

• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• Germany (the States (Länder) of Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein and Niedersachsen (only NUTS II area Lüneburg region))
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Poland
• Sweden

Partner neighboring country:

• Norway: the Regions of Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Vestland, Rogaland, Agder, Vestfold og Telemark, Viken, Innlandet, Oslo

More info at: https://interreg-baltic.eu/get-funding/programme-2021-2027/ 

 

7.3  Interreg North Sea Region

The following are the priorities for the new period that might be relevant for EGDF members:

Priority 1 – Robust and smart economies in the North Sea Region

• Enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies
• Developing skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship

Priority 2 – A green transition in the North Sea Region

• Promoting energy efficiency measures & reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Call 2 welcomes the following types of application:

• Expressions of interest
• Small-scale project applications
• Full applications resulting from successful Call 1 expressions of interest.

Opening date: 1 August 2022

Closing date: 14 November 2022 at 17.00 CET.

 

For whom?

Denmark, Netherlands, Norway except for two Northernmost counties, plus North Sea Coastal regions of Belgium, Germany, France and Sweden

More info at: https://northsearegion.eu/

 

7.4  Interreg Mediterranean Region

The following are the priorities for the new period that might be relevant for EGDF members:

1 – Smarter MED – Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies

• Promoting access to finance, innovation capacity and cross-sectoral cooperation for SMEs
• Promoting climate friendly innovations, efficient industrial transition processes, new business models oriented to the generation of shared value, entrepreneurship in new sectors and those in transition
• Value chain development and cooperation within transnational clusters and promotion of transnational coalitions (public – private collaborations), internationalization and extroversion of SMEs
• Application of innovative sustainable business development practices, change management tools and solutions for SMEs
• Reinforcing transformative innovation policies

For whom?

Funds for projects developed and managed by public administrations, universities, private and civil society organisations.

EU MEMBER STATES

• Bulgaria (whole country)
• Croatia (whole country)
• Cyprus (whole country)
• France (Corse, Occitanie, Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, Rhône-Alpes)
• Greece (whole country)
• Italy (Abruzzo, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Molise, Piedmonte, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria, Valle D’Aoste, Veneto)
• Malta (whole country)
• Portugal (Algarve, Alentejo, Lisbon)
• Slovenia (whole country)
• Spain (Andalusia, Aragon, Balearic islands, Castilla-la-Mancha, Catalonia, Extremadura, Comunidad de Madrid, Murcia, Valencia, Ceuta and Melilla)

IPA COUNTRIES

• Albania (whole country)
• Bosnia-Herzegovina (whole country)
• Montenegro (whole country)
• Republic of North Macedonia (whole country)

The total programme budget amounts to about 294M€ for the 2021-2027 period.

Here find the most relevant documentation.

More info at: https://interreg-euro-med.eu/en/

 

7.5 Interreg Europe

Interreg Europe’s single priority is strengthening institutional capacities for more effective regional development policies.

The Interreg Europe programme’s core target group is any organisation responsible for regional development policy such as national, regional and local clusters. The programme also targets trade associations, education and research institutions, and others provided that their relevance and competence in regional development policy can be demonstrated.

 

Within this Priority, there are 5 different policy objectives. Listed below are the two more relevant ones for EGDF members:

A Smarter Europe

• Research and Innovation capacities, uptake of advanced technologies
• Digitisation for citizens, companies, research organisations and public authorities
• Sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including by productive investments
• Skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition & entrepreneurship
• Digital connectivity

A More social Europe

• Access to education, training and lifelong learning, distance and on-line education and training
• Inclusion of marginalised communities, low-income households and disadvantaged groups
• Socio-economic integration of third country nationals, including migrants
• Effectiveness and inclusiveness of labour market, access to quality employment, social economy
• Culture and tourism for economic development, social inclusion, and social innovation

 

For whom?

• All 27 EU countries plus Norway and Switzerland
• Public authorities – local, regional and national
• Managing authorities/intermediate bodies – in charge of the Investment for Growth and Jobs programmes or European Territorial Cooperation
• Agencies, research institutes, thematic and non-profit organisations – by first engaging with their local policymakers in order to identify options for collaboration with Interreg Europe.
• Interreg Europe projects must involve partners from at least three participating countries, at least two of which shall be beneficiaries from EU Member States

What is funded?

• Interregional cooperation projects
  • The programme will support interregional cooperation projects between regional policy actors to improve the implementation of participating regions’ regional development policies, including their Investment for Jobs and Growth goal (IJ&G) programmes (at least one of the regional policy instruments addressed by the partnership must be an IJ&G programme.)
  • Projects may propose a cross-cutting approach, where appropriate. However, each project must still contribute to one specific objective / governance issue only and have a clear focus on a specific regional policy issue. Cross-cutting simply means that the topic addressed under one specific objective can also be linked to issues addressed under another
  • Learning activities to support the exchange of experience, capacity building, the transfer of good practices, and innovative approaches
  • Total funding of 351M Eur
  • Expected project budget range is 1-2 million EUR. Co-finance rate is up to 85% of project activities.

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8. European Social Fund +

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The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the European Union (EU)’s main instrument for investing in people. With a budget of almost € 99.3 billion for the period 2021-2027, the ESF+ will continue to provide an important contribution to the EU’s employment, social, education and skills policies, including structural reforms in these areas.

The Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) Strand – implemented by the Commission.

• EaSI is to support:

• • • analytical activities (surveys, studies, statistical data, methodologies, classifications, micro-simulations, indicators, support to European-level observatories and benchmarks) to promote evidence-based policy making in the areas of employment and social policy.
    • networking and capacity-building activities.
    • cross-border partnerships, and services in cross-border regions as well as EU-wide targeted labour-mobility schemes with a view to filling vacancies where labour markets ‘imbalances have been identified.
    • Communication and dissemination activities, notably mutual learning through exchange of practices, innovative approaches, peer reviews, and benchmarking, but also events guides, reports, informative material and media coverage.

8.1 Social innovations for a fair green and digital transition (ESF-2022-SOC-INNOV)

• What the funding can be used for? 

• • This instrument might be particularly interesting for trade associations, nacional/local clusters, incubators, event organizers, universities/organisations, and game development and/or publishing companies that offer vocational education and training or are interested in developing games or initiatives with a societal or environmental impact or edugames.

• • The call aims to develop and test integrated and inclusive social innovation approaches – in schools or training centres, at work or in local communities, or other relevant environments – to foster just green and digital transitions, by:

• • • Identifying and addressing (re-/up-)skilling and (re-)training needs stemming from new, green or digital products, services or technologies;

• • • Fostering social acceptance and/or behavioural changes for more sustainable business models, consumption patterns and/or modes of transport;

• • • Enabling and steping up a fair green and digital transition by promoting and disseminating inclusive social innovation approaches in the areas above.

• • Activities that can be funded include but are not limited to:  

• • • Capacity building activities;

• • • Awareness and dissemination actions;  Actions aiming at creating and improving networks, exchanging good practices;  Actions developing and testing integrated and social innovation approaches to address some of the challenges and risks described in detail in the call document

• • • Feedback to policy makers at local, regional, national and EU level;

• • • Training (incl. on-the-job) and job matching activities;

• • • Communication campaigns targeting specific social groups

• Who can apply:

• • The applicants must:

• • • Be legal entities (public or private bodies)

• • • Be established in EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)) OR

• • • Be listed EEA countries and countries associated to the ESF+ or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature(list of countries)

• • • Be non-profit organisations (private or public), public authorities (national, regional, local), international organisations, universities, educational institutions, research centres or companies  

• • • Be social partner organisations at European, national or regional level.

• • Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least 2 applicants from 2 different eligible countries.

• • Natural persons, international organisations and EU bodies (with the exception of the European Commission Joint Research Centre) can NOT be part of the consortium

• How much funding is available and under what conditions? 

• • Total call budget is EUR 10 000 000 with a possibility of extending it by 20%

• • The Commission expects to fund 15 to 20 proposals of between EUR 200 000 and EUR 1 000 000 per project, but this does not preclude the submission/selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

• • The grant will be a budget-based mixed actual cost grant. This means that it will reimburse ONLY certain types of costs and costs that were actually incurred for your project. The costs will be reimbursed at the funding rate fixed in the Grant Agreement:

• • • Actions of 12 months : one prefinancing payment of 70%

• • • Actions between 12 and 24 months: prefinancing payments linked to annual reporting periods:

• • • • 40% from the entry into force of the grant agreement or after receiving the financial guarantee (if required), whichever is the latest

• • • • 40% after receiving an additional prefinancing report.

• • • Actions between 24 and 36 months: prefinancing payments linked to annual reporting periods:

• • • • 30% from the entry into force of the grant agreement or after receiving the financial guarantee (if required), whichever is the latest

• • • • A second and third prefinancing of 40% and 20% after receiving additional prefinancing reports.

• • indirect cost flat-rate: 7% of the eligible direct costs

• When? 

• • Call opening: 03 May 2022

• • Deadline for submission: 02 August 2022 17:00:00 Brussels time

• • Project duration: between 12 and 24 months (extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment)

For more information, please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/esf-2022-soc-innov;callCode=null;freeTextSearchKeyword=;matchWholeText=true;typeCodes=1,0;statusCodes=31094501,31094502,31094503;programmePeriod=2021%20-%202027;programCcm2Id=43254019;programDivisionCode=null;focusAreaCode=null;destination=null;mission=null;geographicalZonesCode=null;programmeDivisionProspect=null;startDateLte=null;startDateGte=null;crossCuttingPriorityCode=null;cpvCode=null;performanceOfDelivery=null;sortQuery=sortStatus;orderBy=asc;onlyTenders=false;topicListKey=topicSearchTablePageState

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9. STARTS – Art and the digital: Unleashing creativity for European industry, regions, and society.

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For technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, new digital media, smart cities, high performance computing, data science, or biotechnologies, artistic experiments with use cases of these technologies can drive their graceful immersion in economy and society. The overall aim is to link artists with local regional development actors and with technology institutions across Europe.

The ambition of artistic experimentation for this call is two-fold:

• Accelerate the digital transition by stimulating uptake of digital technologies by regional stakeholders – business/industry end-users, regional governmental bodies and actors and citizens themselves.
• Accelerate the green transition via art technology collaboration on a local level.

This call has two main objectives:

• Artistic experimentation with key technologies for regional development
  • Artistic residencies in technology institutions and other pertinent local stakeholders in line with the STARTS residencies program. These STARTS residencies will facilitate artistic experimentation with key technologies in chosen local hosts institutions
  • art and technology jointly elaborate art-driven solutions to clearly identified challenges that help drive a strong collaboration between the artists and the hosts. 
• Creation of Regional STARTS centres as hubs for art-driven innovation
  • The ‘regional STARTS centres’ should become hubs for art-driven innovation that promote synergies of art, technology and regional development. The centers should organize pertinent events to promote art-driven innovation

• • What can the funding be used for? 
    • This instrument might be particularly interesting for video game development companies, universities, research organizations and local clusters interested in developing art-driven technological innovation. 
    • Eligible activities must clearly target artistic use of (digital) technologies with a goal to promote regional development and uptake of digital technology via artistic experiments:
      • STARTS residencies of artists in companies/institutions from (digital) technology and/or other sectors. Note: special funding conditions apply here, check section 6 and 10 of this document
      • Mentoring activities accompanying the STARTS residencies (e.g., helping in communication between hosts and artists, helping in disseminating results, teaming up with investors, discussing possible support with local foundations).
      • Art exhibitions presenting art works from STARTS residencies and other works that contribute to the idea of art-driven technology innovation.
      • Events that further collaborations of stakeholders in cities/regions already at the forefront of art-tech synergies (local authorities and business, foundations etc.) and help enlarge the community of players interested in sustaining STARTS regional centers.
      • Festivals/Performances/installations that link digital with art/music to reflect on the role of digital in creativity.
      • Contributions to the website www.starts.eu open to artists and interested companies that can serve as a gathering point. In particular, call and outcomes of STARTS residencies must be displayed on this website. No dedicated project website will be needed.
      • Educational workshops (hosted jointly by engineers and artists) in the spirit of ‘STARTS academies’ to make (digital) technology more accessible to citizens in particular the young generation (digital skills and critical thinking; digital literacy).
  • Who can apply:
    • The applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
      • Be legal entities (public or private bodies)
      • Be established in EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)) or
      • Partners not eligible for funding as partners/beneficiaries can participate to the project at their own costs as ‘Associated Partners’. Please refer to section 13 of the call text for the definition of Associated Partners.
    • Proposals may be submitted by any of the following applicants or combinations of:
      • non-profit organisation (private or public)
      • public authorities (national, regional, local);
      • non-governmental organisations;
      • universities and educational institutions;
      • foundations;
      • technology institutions;
      • research/art centres.
    • Consortium should consist of at least four applicants(beneficiaries; affiliated entities do not count for the minimum number of applicants),which are independent entities, from four different eligible countries.
  • How much funding is available and under what conditions? 
    • Total call budget is EUR 3 750 000
    • Expected to fund three projects with a maximum grant amount of EUR 1 250 000 per project
    • The reimbursement rate for financial support to third parties (STARTS residencies) will be at a maximum 60%. For all other categories, the reimbursement rate will be at a maximum 75%. Indirect cost flat-rate: 7% of the eligible direct costs
    • After grant signature, you will normally receive a prefinancing float of normally 50% of the maximum grant amount; exceptionally less or no prefinancing
    • Budget-based grant.

• Personnel costs shall not exceed 35% of the total eligible costs of the action.

• Subcontracting shall not exceed 15% of the total eligible costs of the action.

• Costs for financial support to third parties allowed for grants: maximum amount per third party 40 000 EUR

• When? 
  • Call opening: 21 June 2022
  • Deadline for submission: 23 August 2022  17:00 CEST (Brussels local time)
  • Project duration: between 16 and 20 months (extensions are possible , if
  • duly justified and through an amendment).
• For more information, please visit: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/funding/art-and-digital-unleashing-creativity-european-industry-regions-and-society-1

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10. InvestEU Equity

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What is InvestEU Equity?

Under InvestEU Equity, the (European Investment Fund)EIF will provide equity investments and co-investments to, or alongside, funds in the areas of venture capital, private equity and private credit, that pursue generalist, specialized or mixed investment strategies.

Deadline for applications: 30 June 2027

Who is it for?

Private equity, Venture capital funds, fund-of-funds, cross-over funds, (co-)investment schemes, special purpose vehicles in any form that undertake long term risk capital investments, excluding entities targeting buy-out (or replacement capital) intended for asset stripping.

In order to be considered for InvestEU Equity selection, all Financial intermediaries(funds, private equity, etc..), including the managers thereof, shall:

• represent that they are not in any of the Exclusion Situations(check table in point 6 of this document)
• not be established in a Non-Compliant Jurisdiction(check table in point 6 of this document) unless the operation is physically implemented there.
• Not be subject to Restrictive Measures:
  • As part of its due diligence process, EIF will analyze and exclude any applicant if it or any of its ultimate beneficial owners/key persons are subject to UN/EU/OFAC/UK restrictive measures (sanctions) in relation to Russia as well as the non-government controlled territories of Ukraine.

Financial Intermediaries shall:

• be established (domiciled) in a Member State or in an OCT 
• be managed by Independent Management Teams(check table in point 6 of this document), except in the following cases:
  • Where, due to the nature of the market, the domain investment expertise is concentrated within a few industry participants who act, or are otherwise linked with potential investors in a Financial Intermediary
  • In the scenario where a Financial Intermediary is investing in Technology Transfer. 

What can be financed?

 Investments supported by InvestEU Equity aim to:

• Address market gaps and suboptimal investment situations in the EU policy priority areas,
• Prioritise investments supporting the digital transition, climate action and environmental sustainability as well as investments increasing the European independence in strategic sectors
• Contribute to post COVID recovery by diversifying the financing sources and strengthening the equity base of the European SMEs
• Accelerating growth of European scale-ups accompanying and supporting them in accessing public markets
• Increase the gender balance of the venture capital and private equity market operators and promote women entrepreneurship
• Catalyse the emergence and consolidation of social enterprises and impact driven enterprises in their efforts to scale up and create a conducive environment for risk capital in the social impact investing space.

The most relevant Thematic Strategies, and their Target Areas, for EGDF members are:

Capital Markets Union

Promotes the development of capital markets and diversification of financing sources across Europe.

• Growth and expansion funds:

• • • Investments in growth or lower mid-market funds that provide equity and quasi equity financing, and support the continued growth of companies, including in order to finance increased production capacity, to finance market or product development, to provide additional working capital or to be used for a (total or partial) acquisition, in any case with a view to further grow the business.

• Debt and hybrid equity-debt funds: 

• • The following typologies of funds fall within this Target Area:
    • Senior Private Credit Funds: credit funds, (i) investing, directly or indirectly, predominantly in the form of senior debt while also investing in non-distressed contractually subordinated debt or hybrid-debt equity and (ii) applying a portfolio diversification approach targeting 40 or more investments by the end of the (re-)investment period. See Annex V –Term Sheet for Senior Private Credit.
    • Selective Loan and Hybrid Debt-Equity Funds: funds providing onward lending in the form of non-distressed senior, subordinated, mezzanine or unitranche solutions, thereby widening the availability of non-bank financing to SMEs, and Small Mid-Caps. 

Digital and Cultural & Creative Sectors 

Investments that contribute to the strengthening of the EU’s competitiveness, digital independence and strategic autonomy, with a focus on data, communications technologies, services and products that facilitate the digital transition and address societal challenges:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Digital systems
• Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies (BT/DLT) Technologies
• Cybersecurity Activities
• Quantum Computing Technologies
• Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS) Activities in the cultural and creative sectors, including the development and use of new technologies and tools for the management of intellectual property rights.
  • MediaInvest: audiovisual content production and distribution(for videogames industry, this includes also augmented / virtual reality experiences)
• Education technology:
• Other Digital 
  • cloud computing and data platforms

Conditions of Financing

The EIF investment under InvestEU Equity into a Financial Intermediary shall generally represent:

• at least 7.5% of the total commitments to such Financial Intermediary raised in the closing at which the InvestEU Investment occurs
• no more than 25% of the total commitments of the Financial Intermediary . In particular circumstances the EIF commitment may exceed 25%.

In deciding the level of commitment, EIF will consider, among other things, the following factors:

• adherence of the Financial Intermediary to the Gender Criteria(section 6)
• whether the investment strategy of the Financial Intermediary focuses on one or more EU member states classified as Moderate or Emerging Innovator Countries (“MEICs”):
• focus of the investment strategy of the Financial Intermediary on the Target Areas,
• the experience of the management team and the closing in which EIF participates,
• whether the investment strategy of the Financial Intermediary targets Technology Transfer or whether the Financial Intermediary is managed by business angels or aims to systematically co-invest with business angels.

Size of a “like-risk-like-reward” InvestEU Investment: >EUR 100M. In practice, the minimum fund size is EUR 15-20M(unofficial information).

Duration of an InvestEU Investment: Typically ranges between 5 and 20 years.

Investor base of a Financial Intermediary: As a general rule, at least 30% of total commitments to a Financial Intermediary shall be made by Third-Party Benchmark Investors(check table in point 6 of this document) in the same risk class as the EIF, or by the EIF or EIB on their own risk and from their own resources, provided that Third-Party Benchmark Investors account for at least 15% of total commitments.

Minimum Investment Allocation Requirements

• Financial Intermediaries shall commit to invest a minimum amount into Eligible Final Recipients. Only Primary Investments and Eligible Secondary Investments shall be eligible for the purpose of calculating the Minimum Eligible Allocation. The Minimum Eligible Allocation shall be equal to at least the higher of:
  • 50% of the Financial Intermediary’s aggregate invested amounts, and
  • 2 times the amount drawn down from EIF under the InvestEU Investment for investment purposes, capped at 80% of the Financial Intermediary’s aggregate invested amounts.
• Financial Intermediaries shall indicate at the time of application, which Target Areas are captured by their investment strategy, and shall be required to commit a minimum amount into such Target Area(s) (the “Minimum Target Allocation”).

The Minimum Target Allocation shall be equal to at least 2 times the amount drawn down by the Financial Intermediary under the InvestEU Investment for the purpose of investments in Eligible Final Recipients under the relevant Thematic Strategy (or any Target Area part of it), capped at 80% of the Financial Intermediary’s aggregate invested amounts.

Final Recipients Eligibility Requirements:

• are located or established and operating in a Member State or an OCT
• are SMEs or Small Mid-Caps or Large Mid-Caps
• are active in any of the Thematic Strategies (mentioned above). Large Mid-Caps are not considered Eligible Final Recipients for the Capital Markets Union Thematic Strategy.

Excluded Final Recipients:

Other requirements may apply: check point 5 of this document

The above cited conditions apply generally to the InvestEu equity product, however, there are scenarios where conditions may be slightly altered:

• Look here for more info on ESCALAR investment
• Look here for more info on pre,peri, or post-IPO investment
• Look here for more info on Senior Private Credit Fund Investment

For more information check:

Open Call for Expression of Interest

Term Sheet (Definitions)