CreaTech aims to establish a distributed innovation ecosystem to foster entrepreneurship and innovation within the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) across Europe. Anchored in HEIs, the initiative is designed to connect students, graduates, researchers, and industry professionals with leaders in the cultural and creative sectors.

The project pursues four primary objectives:

• Strengthen the capacity of HEIs to support cultural innovation through tailored training and mentorship for academic and non-academic staff, fostering institutional change and entrepreneurship;
• Equip students and aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills and resources to develop, launch, and grow start-ups in the CCIs;
• Enhance collaboration and knowledge exchange among HEIs, start-ups, and stakeholders in the creative industries;
• Provide structured training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help cultural start-ups transform ideas into viable businesses and scale their operations effectively.

These objectives will be achieved through four integrated action lines:

1. Capacity Building – Tailored training and mentoring for HEI staff to address institutional needs and establish a foundation for cultural innovation.
2. Innovation and Business Development – Introduction of Knowledge Labs to equip students and participants with essential entrepreneurial skills and tools for business development.
3. Digital Platform – Development of an online platform as a repository for resources, networking opportunities, and collaboration tools to support knowledge exchange.
4. Start-Up Booster Programme – Implementation of an accelerator providing cultural start-ups with mentorship, training, and access to funding opportunities, culminating in a Europe-wide competition to showcase innovative ideas.

CreaTech aligns with the strategic objectives of the EIT HEI Initiative by enhancing the capacity of HEIs to drive innovation and entrepreneurship within the CCIs. The project facilitates the transition of creative ideas into market-ready solutions, supports start-up creation, and provides access to mentorship and funding. By strengthening institutional innovation capacity and fostering partnerships across Europe, CreaTech also bolsters the global competitiveness of European HEIs, transforming them into engines of innovation.

The project will equip students, graduates, and aspiring entrepreneurs with innovation and entrepreneurial competencies essential for thriving in tomorrow’s job market while driving innovation in CCIs. Furthermore, by uniting HEIs, start-ups, investors, and stakeholders in collaborative activities, CreaTech fosters co-creation and knowledge transfer, maximising impact at both institutional and community levels and contributing to a dynamic and inclusive innovation ecosystem.

Project coordinator

Dorina Kripa, Doctor, University of Tirana (contact)