December 21, 2025

Last Call Funding Program CO.VISION

The new cross-innovation program CO.VISION by MFG Baden-Württemberg – funded by the Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Tourismus – brings together the cultural and creative industries, start-ups, and small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) from all sectors. Its aim is to build cross-sector alliances that demonstrate how innovation thrives through collaboration. Because the future emerges where diverse perspectives meet – where design and creativity intersect with engineering, where coding and game design connect with health, urban development, and mobility, or where artists collaborate with SMEs.

Until January 11, 2026, companies and associations from the creative industries and the wider economy can submit their project ideas. The program is seeking cross-innovative projects that present new solutions for innovative value chains and social resilience in Baden-Württemberg. Up to nine pilot projects will be funded, each receiving up to €20,000 (covering a maximum of 50% of total project costs). However, CO.VISION offers far more than just financial support: an accompanying support program featuring workshops, networking formats, and a final showcase event increases the visibility of the projects – and empowers participants to become multipliers of a new culture of innovation.

Submitted projects should be aligned with five future-oriented fie lds that the state of Baden-Württemberg has defined as key areas of action for tomorrow’s value creation:

Mobility & Transport: Creative approaches to sustainable mobility, logistics, and industrial transformation
People & Society: Digital creativity for education, participation, and resilience
Materials & Resources: Smart materials, circular economy, and sustainable production
Mechanical Engineering & Robotics: Human-centered innovations and new interfaces between industry and design
Cyber, Services & Security: Creative solutions for digital security, trust, and democracy

Eligible to apply are cultural and creative professionals, start-ups, as well as micro, small, and medium-sized companies from all sectors that implement their pilot projects in partnership. These partnerships may already be in place but can also be further developed and strengthened over the course of the program. Key requirements include an interdisciplinary approach, a clearly identifiable creative contribution, and a strong willingness to innovate and collaborate. The lead applicants must be based in Baden-Württemberg.

Further information and application (deadline: January 11, 2026): https://co-vision.mfg.de/

Source: MFG B aden-Württemberg

February 22, 2025

EIT Culture & Creativity: Open Calls for the Cultural and Creative Sectors

EIT Culture & Creativit y is a EU-funded Knowledge and Innovation Community that’s bringing creatives from all walks of life together to rethink how we live as Europeans. It aims to fundamentally change the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) towards new understandings of competitiveness, sustainable economic growth coupled with positive social and environmental impacts. It embraces all forms of innovation to generate prosperity, positive environmental and social impacts, and fair conditions for creatives and cultural workers.

EIT Culture & Creativity publishes open calls for funding regularly. They support all players in the Cultural & Creative Sectors and Industries by open calls for proposals for innovative higher education, professional training, products and services, as well as to start and accelerate businesses. This empowers stakeholders to excel in competitiveness, resilience, and sustainable economic growth.

Open C alls:

Education Call: Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Courses 2025
This call aims at continuous professional development (CPD) courses, designed to upskill professionals in the cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI), address critical skills gaps and foster innovation in all EIT CC priority areas (Fashion, Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Audio-Visual Media, and Gaming) in support of Europe’s green, digital, and social transitions.
Call closure: April 11, 2025 at 17.00 CET | More information and application: https://eit-culture-creativity.eu/education-call-cpd-courses-2025/

Innovation Call: Main Innovation Projects 2025
This call seeks to foster groundbreaking innovations in Fashion, Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Audio-Visual Media, and Gaming, helping stakeholders navigate the challenges of globalisation, digital transformation, emerging technologies (such as AI), and environmental sustainability.
Call closure: April 11, 2025 at 17.00 CET | More information and application: https://eit-culture-creativity.eu/innovation-call-2025/

Innovation Call: Short Innovation Projects 2025
This call aims at supporting high-impact initiatives that address pressing challenges in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries and focuses on fast-paced, results-driven innovation projects with a maximum duration of 6 months, delivering tangible and market-ready solutions within a short timeframe.
Call closure: March 11, 2025 at 17.00 CET | More information and application: https://eit-culture-creativity.eu/short-innovation-projects-202 5/

EIT Culture & Creativity consists of numerous partners across Europe. In our region, this is the Media Solution Center Baden-Württemberg e.V.. For any questions, please contact Matthias Hauser via e-mail.

May 18, 2024

Apply now for IDEENSTARK 2024!

Creative professionals from Baden-Württemberg now have the opportunity to apply for the IDEENSTARK award from MFG Baden-Württemberg. For the eighth time, the motto for forward-thinking creative entrepreneurs, start-ups and solo freelancers is: “Your idea – your opportunity – your company”. The application deadline is Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

The ten selected winners not only receive the prestigious IDEENSTARK award at the IDEENSTARK award ceremony, but also the opportunity to participate in the exclusive support program with various stations free of charge. These include a wide range of tools that cover all facets of the individual everyday life of creative entrepreneurs: from strategy and financing to market positioning, communication, sales and personal development.

A central component of the program is the exchange among participants, which enables them to benefit from the collective wealth of experience.

For those who would like to find out more about IDEENSTARK or have questions about the application process or the program, the open IDEENSTARK consultation hour with project manager Mira Kleine offers the opportunity for clarification. The consultation hour always takes place on Mondays from 11:00-12:00 CET. Upcoming dates are: May 21 (Tuesdays due to public holiday!), May 27 and June 3.

Information and link to the consultation hours

More about Ideenstar k BW and the program

IDEENSTARK is organized by MFG Baden-Württemberg and supported by the Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Tourismus Baden-Württemberg and the Start-up BW state campaign.