Call for participation – ekip Academy: Building Open Innovation Ecosystems for Cultural & Creative Industries

The European Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Policy Platform consortium (ekip) is proud to launch the ekip Academy: Building Open Innovation Ecosystems for Cultural & Creative Industries. The Academy is a four-day in-person training program for policy actors in cities and regions. It is designed for those who want to create transformative innovation strategies that support cultural and creative industries in collaborating across sectors.

Why you should join the ekip Academy

Unlike traditional training programs focused on individual professional development, the Academy supports teams rather than single participants. It invites groups of three policy actors from the same local ecosystem who are working around a shared mission—such as a joint research agenda, transformation strategy for a city, or a plan for a new innovation instrument. 

The Academy will equip participants with knowledge and tools to implement policy changes that enable open innovation processes with creative and cultural industries at their core. The program is designed around engagement with practical tools and active learning from other participating ecosystems and peers. Participants will apply what they learn to their own contexts to understand how they can develop their own innovation portfolios and effectively support complex innovation ecosystems.

At the end of the program, teams will return home with practical tools and actionable strategies to strengthen their innovation ecosystems, as well as new connections within a European-wide network of like-minded professionals. 

What to expect from the ekip Academy

Over the four days, participants will explore their innovation policy development journey from start to finish. They will gain expertise to:

• Engage cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in cross-sectoral innovation processes.
• Map and investigate their local innovation ecosystem and shape it through policy interventions.
• Develop thematic innovation portfolios to address their strategic missions or selected societal challenges.
• Engage their local ecosystem in collaborative innovation policy prototyping and validation activities.
• Measure and communicate the impact of innovation activities on an ecosystem level.

The Academy will be facilitated by a group of innovation practitioners, policy actors, and researchers who bring knowledge on ecosystem development, open innovation, and CCI policy. The program builds on the experiences and knowledge co-developed with the cities of Lund, Tallinn, Rotterdam, Košice, Saint-Étienne, Bratislava and many more. 

Who can participate

We invite applications from teams of 3 representatives from the same local ecosystem, composed of policy and strategy makers, creative and cultural entrepreneurs and organizations, and innovation facilitators. Teams should be based in the EU or the associated countries according to Horizon Europe rules.

This could include initiatives that:

• Focus on a subsector within the CCIs that can bring competitive advantage to a city

• Develop a creative city agenda, either city-wide, or within a new creative hub or district

• Integrate CCIs as a key component of other strategies, such as: kid-friendly city, urban mobility, sustainability, circular economy, etc.

In particular, we are looking for participants who are able to make, shape or influence policy that can support open innovation in the cultural and creative industries, which may include:

• Policy actors – these may be policy makers, strategic decision makers, etc. at various levels. They do not necessarily have to be working within local administration as many different roles and organizations play a key role in influencing and developing relevant policy tools and  interventions.
• Those able to create an impact on a local CCI ecosystem – whether directly working on creative, cultural, innovation or similar areas, or those working in communities (e.g., hubs, incubators, etc.) or policy areas (e.g., sustainability, tourism, etc.) that are looking to support CCIs in open innovation. 

Previous experience with innovation policy is welcome but not required—motivation to engage CCIs in innovation processes and the ability to implement changes on a system rather than individual organization level are key.

How to apply

• Form a team. Start reaching out to policy actors and collaborators in your local ecosystem with whom you could form a team of 3 for the Academy. If you need advice on how to form a team, please reach out to the organizing team: ekip-academies@beeldengeluid.nl.  
• Information on the procedures can be found in this VIDEO and the Document For any further questions contact us through:  ekip-academies@beeldengeluid.nl.
• Fill out the application form HERE. Deadline: 28 February. Before filling out the form, you can preview the questions here. We strongly encourage you to get in touch with us if you need any advice or have any doubts about the application. Also check the frequently asked questions section below.

Timeline

19 January, 2026: Applications open 

3 February, 2026: Information session was held, and you can find the recording of the session and informational document below

28 February, 2026: Applications close

March, 2026: Successful applicants informed

Selection process & eligibility

Applications will be reviewed by a panel drawn from the ekip Academy team. 

Applicants will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Credibility and capacity of the team to develop and implement relevant innovation and/or CCI policy at an appropriate level (e.g. city, region, etc.) 
• Motivation to take part in the policy academy 
• The team’s existing experience with innovation processes
• Potential impact on/for CCIs in your innovation ecosystem / region

Eligibility

Teams should be based in the EU or the associated countries according to Horizon Europe rules. Command of English level C1 or higher is required.

Financial support

Participation in ekip Academy is free of charge. ekip will cover subsistence costs and accommodation in Tallinn for three nights, and cultural programming.

Participants are expected to cover their own travel expenses to Tallinn.

Online information session

On February 3th 2026 we held the information session. Here you can find the recording of the session: VIDEO

The information of the session is also available in this Document

For any further questions contact us through:  ekip-academies@beeldengeluid.nl.

Organizers

The Academy is organized and facilitated by the ekip initiative partners Netherlands Institute for Sound & Vision, Creativity Lab, University of Edinburgh and Future by Lund.

Frequently asked questions

• Who can I contact if I have any questions?

You can reach the ekip Academy team here: ekip-academies@beeldengeluid.nl  

• I’m unsure how to form a team. Can I still apply?

Please reach out to the ekip Academy team (ekip-academies@beeldengeluid.nl), who will provide you with advice on how to form a team.

• My experience with innovation processes is limited, but I want to improve this in my region. Would I still be considered for the Academy?

Absolutely. We encourage you to mention your experience and motivation in the application for highlighting concretely how you plan to improve innovation processes in your region after participating in the Academy.

• I have a team, but the focus of our innovation policy process is not aimed at CCIs. Is this an issue?

Not at all – as long as you are open to integrating CCIs into your innovation strategy and exploring the value they can bring to your local ecosystem.

• Is it possible to participate online?

No. The Academy will not be offered in a hybrid format. Some materials from the programme will be made available at a later date via the ekip Knowledge Bank.