Re-imagining the creative economy: the interplay between the cultural and creative sectors and industries and the social economy - European Commission
Funds research to integrate social economy principles into Europe’s cultural and creative sectors, aiming for sustainable growth, quality jobs, and measurable social impact.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: September 23, 2027 (Full application submission deadline, 17:00 Brussels time)
Funding Amounts: €3,000,000–€3,500,000 per project; up to 3 grants awarded
Summary: Supports research and innovation integrating social economy principles into cultural and creative sectors for sustainable growth, quality jobs, and social impact in Europe.
Description
This funding opportunity from the European Commission aims to advance research and innovation at the intersection of the social economy and the cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI). The objective is to develop and test innovative frameworks and hybrid business models that combine social economy principles—such as social purpose, democratic governance, and reinvestment of profits—with entrepreneurship in the creative economy. Projects are expected to generate evidence-based policy frameworks, case studies, and evaluation tools to measure the social and economic impact of CCSIs operating within social economy frameworks.
Key focus areas include:
- Sustainable growth and resilience of CCSIs, especially during crises.
- Workforce development and strategies to address precarious employment, social mobility, and diversity.
- Innovation, local development, and social impact, including empowering marginalized groups.
- Comparative policy analysis, identification of best practices, and recommendations for scalable, integrated strategies.
Interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral cooperation and stakeholder involvement are strongly encouraged to empower CCSIs as catalysts for inclusive and sustainable transformation in Europe.
