Globally, cultural and creative industries generate 3,1% of GDP and 6,2% of employment, but their value goes far beyond numbers. As argued in the fundamental work of Mariana Mazzucato (The Public Value of Arts and Culture, Investing in Arts and Culture to Reimagine Economic Growth in the 21st Century BY MARIANA MAZZUCATO, Discussion Paper — September 2025) on the public value of the arts, culture is not an appendix of the economy: it is essential for direct its growth Towards more creative, inclusive, and sustainable societies. Investing in this area means transforming our assets into a powerful catalyst for innovation, capable of generating positive spillovers throughout society. This ambitious vision requires concrete tools to be realized.

For this vision to translate into concrete results, appropriate operational tools and specialized skills are needed. It is in this context that the EDIH Heritage Smart Lab (HSL), a European Digital Innovation Hub specializing in the cultural and creative sector, co-financed by the European Commission and the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy.

As a partner of Heritage Smart Lab, Iniziativa operates locally, offering high-value services, subsidized for SMEs and innovative startups and free for public administrations, with the aim of accelerating digital transformation, entrepreneurial growth, and innovation in public intervention models.

What we actually offer:

For innovative SMEs and startups

• Structured guidance on access to private capital, in the early stages early stage e Seed Financing.
• Support in defining the business model and preparing pre-feasibility documentation.
• Networking activities with investors and preparation of effective presentations (pitches).
• Consulting on feasibility studies, scale-up planning, and crowdfunding campaign design.

For Public Administrations

• Training and support in the design and management of innovative procurement (Innovation Procurement – ​​PCP/PPI).
• Consulting for building public-private partnerships based on digital solutions, through the implementation of pre-feasibility studies.

Heritage Smart Lab's services represent a concrete opportunity to accelerate high-impact projects in the cultural and creative sectors. Applications will be evaluated in chronological order and accepted until space is filled.

Transform your ideas into high-impact projects.

🔗 Apply now and find out more about: www.heritagesmartlab.it | For info: support@iniziativa.cc