Creative Europe: €60 million available for European cooperation projects

The European Commission has published the 2026 call for European cooperation projects under Creative Europe, the EU programme that supports cultural diversity and responds to the multiple challenges of the cultural and creative sectors.

The 2026 call has a total budget of €60 million and aims to fund approximately 150 projects that promote cooperation between organizations active in the cultural sector, thus increasing the cross-border dimension of the creation and circulation of European artistic content. Furthermore, the 2026 call aims to encourage the development, experimentation, dissemination, and application of new and innovative practices.

Specifically, the call is divided into two separate calls.

The first call concerns the Small-scale European cooperation projects (CREA-CULT-2026-COOP-1). The consortium must consist of at least three independent entities from three different eligible countries. The maximum EU grant amount is EUR 200.000 per projectThe financing rate is maximum 80%

The second call, Medium-scale European cooperation projects (CREA-CULT-2026-COOP-2), has a maximum budget per project equal to EUR 1.000.000, with a maximum funding rate of 70%. A consortium of at least five independent entities from five different eligible countries is required.

Despite some specificities, both calls will support projects that pursue a of the following objectives:

transactional creation and circulation: strengthen the creation and transnational circulation of European works and artists;
innovation: strengthening the capacity of Europe's cultural and creative sectors to cultivate talent, innovate, thrive and generate jobs and growth.

The call is open to all cultural and creative sectors. However, since this action is part of the Culture strand of the Creative Europe programme, projects with exclusive audiovisual content and/or composed exclusively of audiovisual sector organisations are not eligible.

The deadline for submitting proposals is set for May 5, 2026.

For more information: info@iniziativa.cc

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Success Cases

Medaarch

Iniziativa, as financial advisor, assisted Meedarch in the spin-off of the Mediterranea business unit and negotiated the entry of a new investor into the NewCo.

Sector: Architecture and design
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2024

Model 231 from 2001

Update of the company's Organization, Management and Control Model, drawn up pursuant to Legislative Decree 231 of 2001

Sector: Company subject to the management and coordination of Invitalia National Agency for Attracting Investments and Business Development SpA
Turnover: €11.444.972,00
Date: 2020

Mati Group and VIS Pesaro

Redevelopment, expansion, adaptation and improvement of the “Villa Fastiggi” sports centre in Pesaro and its functional and economic management

Date: 2019-2022/XNUMX/XNUMX

SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENTS SOLACEM

Creation of new innovative and sustainable entrepreneurial investments aimed at encouraging the completion of the technological and digital transformation of the company towards strategic areas for competitiveness and sustainable growth

Contract: Sustainable Investments 4.0
Project cost: €2.804.437,61
Non-refundable contribution: €1.402.218,80
Date: December 2022

Metropolitan City of Rome Capital

Support in the development of school sports facilities through PPP projects. Key activities include drafting regulations, creating internal guidelines to manage the incoming initiatives, and providing technical and financial assistance in their evaluation, as well as training staff on PPP regulations.

Date: 2024-2025/XNUMX/XNUMX

Sandro Ferrone

Iniziativa, acting as financial advisor, assisted Ferrone in the issuance of a €2,5 million minibond under the Basket Bond Lazio program, to support brand development, retail expansion, and digital investments.

Sector: Women's Fashion / Fashion & Retail
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2025

ATER Umbria

Technical assistance in drafting the feasibility study for the formulation of a Notice for the submission of private PPP proposals relating to seismic improvement and energy efficiency interventions.

Date: 2021

Municipality of Ragusa

Technical support for the development and verification of the economic and financial rebalancing conditions of the concession stipulated with Porto Turistico Marina di Ragusa SpA

Date: 2020-2025/XNUMX/XNUMX

EACP-EUROSME

aErospace inter-clUster smaRt specialization actiOns for SMEs competitiveness in the circular economy approach

Program: COSME
Project cost: €465.320,53
Contribution: €348.990,40
Date: October 2018

Diadem

Distributed Advanced Energy Management Application

Contract: Campania startUp 2020
Project cost: €427.084,00
Contribution: €298.958,80
Date: September 2023

Technical assistance

Technical support activities to the CPT Regional Unit of Bolzano for the analysis of economic-financial and equity data and processing of economic, financial, management and ESG performance indicators of the complex of Local Public Enterprises (around 115 entities) with a focus on investee companies with direct participation from the Province (22 entities)

Sector: Investee Companies - performance analysis
Date: 2023
Value of turnover of the companies analyzed: From €3 million to €169 million

Business Process Reengineering

Business Process Reengineering intervention aimed at optimizing economic results and financial flows

Sector: Precision machining for the aeronautical sector
Date: 2025

Evolutionary upgrading of the models in the assortment

Contract: Innovation Agreement
Project cost: €6.164.816,25
Contribution to spending: €2.073.702,19
Date: July 2022

Protom Group SpA

Protom has acquired the Espero business branch, geographically expanding the market served, Iniziativa He provided a 360° view of the acquisition operation.

Sector: Education and Knowledge development
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2024

EINSTAIN

Engine INSTallation And INtegration

Program: HORIZON - Clean Sky2
Project cost: €1.472.500,00
Contribution: €1.060.900,00
Date: January 2016

Business organization

Intervention to modernize and optimize the company's organizational and management structure, with consequent updating of the Organization Regulations and the Organization Implementation Regulations, aimed at making management more efficient

Sector: Computer programming activities
Turnover: €16.392.207
Date: 2022

Southern Constructions

Public-Private Partnership project for the construction of a multi-storey underground car park in the area between Piazza Trieste – Via IV Novembre and Corso Resina (excavation area) – Ercolano (NA)

Date: 2019-2025/XNUMX/XNUMX

Helkin – Scuolab

Scouting of acquiring companies, assistance in negotiating the LOI, coordination of the multidisciplinary due diligence process (financial, tax, technological, and labor law aspects), negotiation of the SPA and related annexes.

Sector: Edutech
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2025

Training

Design and delivery of training on corporate finance management: "Knowing the present to plan the future" to the top figures of 30 SMEs, in collaboration with the Naples Industrial Union

Sector: Banking
Date: 2022

SGAM SpA

Expansion of production capacity through technological adaptation and extraordinary maintenance interventions of the production plant located in the Municipality of Pratella (CE).

Contract: Development Contract
Project cost: €28.116.140,00
Non-refundable contribution: €7.431.980,00
Date: September 2016

“NSS2023

Next Smart system in a marine environment

Contract: Innovation Agreement
Project cost: €6.431.394,25
Contribution to spending: €2.000.354,01
Date: September 2020

City of Naples

Support in structuring internal processes and in administrative staff training, through assistance in managing the evaluation of PPP proposals, assistance in drafting guidelines for private individuals intending to submit proposals and the development of an internal handbook for evaluation procedures by officials.

Date: 2023-2025/XNUMX/XNUMX

Sol SPA

Consultancy and support for economic-financial and procedural aspects in all phases of the procedure relating to a PPP initiative (pursuant to paragraph 15 art. 183 Legislative Decree 50/2016) relating to an intervention of "Implementation and management innovative and integrated fuel charging station for new buses powered by LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) for the ATAP of P

Sector: Industrial Gases
Date: 2021

Technical assistance

Technical assistance in mapping, analysis and description of the processes underlying the implementation of public works, with a view to the project of simplification of investment processes and creation of the Knowledge Hub for Italian Municipalities and assistance in putting the website online

Sector: Association of Local Authorities - simplification of processes and best practices
Date: 2022 - 2023

Sustainability Report

Support in the preparation of the corporate sustainability report and definition of the ESG strategy and indicators for monitoring sustainable variables

Sector: Railway, telecommunications and automation
Turnover: €27.506.749
Date: 2023

Model 231 from 2001

Support for the preparation of the company's Organization, Management and Control Model, drawn up pursuant to Legislative Decree 231 of 2001.

Sector: Wholesale trade of street sweeping machines
Turnover: €27.197.845
Date: 2023

RICE

Rpas for Intelligent Crop Enhancement

Contract: PON Horizon2020
Project cost: €1.453.013,27
Non-refundable contribution: €830.464,07
Date: November 2017

Giffoni Innovation Hub

CDP Ventur Capital, Opes Lcef Trust and Sefea Impact enter the capital of Giffoni Innovation Hub. Iniziativa assisted Giffoni as a financial and strategic advisor.

Sector: Academic & Educational Services
Deal: 2.000.000,00
Date: 2022

SAMBA

Development of an aeronautical seat with the use of innovative technologies and materials for additive manufacturing and proposal of an innovative, sustainable and integrated Business Model in the industry 4.0 perspective

Contract: Smart Factory, Agrifood and Life Sciences
Project cost: €2.121.216,25
Contribution to spending: €870.099,88
Concessionary Financing: €424.243,25
Date: April 2023

FAST TRACKS

Fast radio technologies for uninterrupted train to trackside communications

Program: Horizon - SME Instrument
Project cost: €2.370.625,00
Contribution: €1.659.437,50
Date: July 2017

€1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported | €1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported |