Results of the European project supporting 22 innovative initiatives in more than 15 EU countries presented in Munich

Munich, 16 July 2025 – The official presentation of the results of the European project FRIEND CCI – Fostering Resilience and Innovation in Europe through Networking Development of Clusters in the Cultural and Creative Industry Ecosystem was held in Munich, with the participation of project partners and beneficiary enterprises.

Launched in 2022 and funded by the Single Market Programme (SMP) of the European Commission, FRIEND CCI aimed to strengthen resilience and promote innovation, digitalisation, and sustainability in the cultural and creative industries (CCI), one of the most dynamic and identity-shaping sectors in Europe.

The project was coordinated by an international consortium composed of Venetian Cluster (Italy), France Clusters (France), Cluster IDiA (Spain), ITALCAM (Germany), and Open Hub Creative Cluster (Romania).

Key results
Through two calls launched in 2023, the project achieved significant results:

70 project proposals submitted by 161 SMEs from more than 15 European countries

22 consortium projects funded, with a total of over 1 million euros in non-repayable grants

Involvement of 84 specialised service providers in the fields of digitalisation, sustainability, and internationalisation

The selected projects cover a wide range of creative and technological applications, including:

COSMO – platform for multimodal personality assessment

MOSAIC – innovative materials for hydraulic tiles

C.U.B.E. – immersive cultural experiences

Carr-e – sustainable mobility solutions

FYV – advanced technologies for the audiovisual sector

FTAI – training paths supported by artificial intelligence

A European model of cooperation

FRIEND CCI confirms itself as a concrete example of how European funds can generate real impact on the creative production fabric, supporting the development of innovative and cross-sectoral solutions and fostering cooperation among clusters at the European level.

The creation of international networks among SMEs, research bodies, and creative hubs has proven to be an effective tool for tackling the challenges of the twin digital and green transition, while at the same time strengthening the competitiveness of the CCI sector.

👉 More information about the project: www.friendcci.eu