What is cascade funding?

Cascade funding (also called financial support to third parties) is money the European Commission gives to an EU-funded project, which the project then passes on to startups, SMEs, researchers or other organisations through its own open calls. You apply to the project, not to the Commission, and the project's own call rules apply.

Each call sets its own eligibility in its call document: usually organisations established in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country, often startups and SMEs. Check the call's eligibility section and the official guide before you apply.

Do I need a consortium?

Most cascade calls accept single applicants, which makes them one of the easiest ways into EU funding. Some calls ask for small teams; the call document says which.

How large are the grants?

Typically tens of thousands of euros per applicant and rarely more than €200,000, because the EU rules for financial support to third parties keep amounts per recipient modest. The exact maximum is in each call.

Can I combine it with other EU funding?

Yes, as long as the same costs are not funded twice. Many startups use a cascade grant to build evidence before applying to larger programmes such as the EIC Accelerator.

Open call for proposals Innovation projects (EU cascade…

On this page · 8 sections→

01The project
02Consortium
03More from this project
04Similar calls
05Cascade funding FAQ
06Call scope
07Eligibility & conditions
08Official source

The project running this call: BP26-28 EITCC

EITCC BP26-28

Implementation of the Strategic Agenda for 26-28 extending the activity into 2028 from the Culture & Creative Industries

EU contribution

€132M

Total cost

€132M

Runs

1 Jan 2026 to 31 Dec 2028

Programme

Horizon Europe

Official project record ↗

Who runs it: the consortium

7 organisations in the project. The coordinator usually manages the open call and its evaluation.

EIT Culture & Creativity GmbH · GermanyCoordinator
EIT Culture & Creativity South SRL · ItalyPartner
EIT Culture and Creativity North West Stichting · NetherlandsPartner
EIT Culture & Creativity South East& Alps GmbH · AustriaPartner
EIT Culture and Creativity South West SL · SpainPartner
EIT Culture & Creativity East AS · SlovakiaPartner
EIT Culture & Creativity North Oy · FinlandPartner

Other open calls from BP26-28 EITCC

Open Call for New Ventures in Creative Tech (Spark)BP26-28 EITCC · closes 16 Nov 2026

Similar open calls from EU projects

Other cascade calls on related topics that you can apply to now.

Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What is cascade funding?: Cascade funding (also called financial support to third parties) is money the European Commission gives to an EU-funded project, which the project then passes on to startups, SMEs, researchers or other organisations through its own open calls. You apply to the project, not to the Commission, and the project's own call rules apply.
Who can apply?: Each call sets its own eligibility in its call document: usually organisations established in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country, often startups and SMEs. Check the call's eligibility section and the official guide before you apply.
Do I need a consortium?: Most cascade calls accept single applicants, which makes them one of the easiest ways into EU funding. Some calls ask for small teams; the call document says which.
How large are the grants?: Typically tens of thousands of euros per applicant and rarely more than €200,000, because the EU rules for financial support to third parties keep amounts per recipient modest. The exact maximum is in each call.
Can I combine it with other EU funding?: Yes, as long as the same costs are not funded twice. Many startups use a cascade grant to build evidence before applying to larger programmes such as the EIC Accelerator.

Cascade funding in the glossary · All open cascade calls

What this call funds

Applications follow a two-stage process. Stage 1 applications must be submitted through the EIT Culture & Creativity online submission platform by 30 October 2026, 17:00 CET. Following admissibility and eligibility checks, eligible Stage 1 proposals are independently evaluated by two external experts against Excellence, Impact, Quality and efficiency of implementation, and EU dimension. Proposals must meet all individual thresholds and achieve at least 23/30 points. Up to 30 selected applicants will be invited to Stage 2 and receive a EUR 20,000 fixed lump sum to prepare a Business Development Plan.

Stage 2 is open only to applicants selected following Stage 1. Full proposals must be submitted by 15 March 2027, 17:00 CET and are evaluated by four independent external experts: two technical/thematic and two business/financial experts. Proposals must achieve all applicable thresholds and at least 70/90 points to proceed to the internal portfolio selection, which includes a hearing and carries up to 40 additional points. Projects must obtain at least 24/40 points in portfolio selection. Final ranking is based on the combined external quality evaluation and portfolio selection scores, subject to available budget.

Eligibility & conditions+

Applicants may submit questions through the EIT Culture & Creativity Contact Form. Questions received during the submission period may be anonymised and published on the call webpage to ensure equal access to information.

An online information session will take place on 7 October 2026, 10:00–12:00 CEST, covering the call scope, topics, requirements, submission process and evaluation procedure. Registration is required and the session will be recorded and subsequently published on the EIT Culture & Creativity website. Applicants are encouraged to consult the call webpage regularly for updates.

Official source

Confirm the current call documents and submission conditions with the funding authority.

View on EU portal ↗

Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal · synced 2026-11-09

On this page · 8 sections→

01The project
02Consortium
03More from this project
04Similar calls
05Cascade funding FAQ
06Call scope
07Eligibility & conditions
08Official source

The project running this call: BP26-28 EITCC

EITCC BP26-28

Implementation of the Strategic Agenda for 26-28 extending the activity into 2028 from the Culture & Creative Industries

EU contribution

€132M

Total cost

€132M

Runs

1 Jan 2026 to 31 Dec 2028

Programme

Horizon Europe

Official project record ↗

Who runs it: the consortium

7 organisations in the project. The coordinator usually manages the open call and its evaluation.

EIT Culture & Creativity GmbH · GermanyCoordinator
EIT Culture & Creativity South SRL · ItalyPartner
EIT Culture and Creativity North West Stichting · NetherlandsPartner
EIT Culture & Creativity South East& Alps GmbH · AustriaPartner
EIT Culture and Creativity South West SL · SpainPartner
EIT Culture & Creativity East AS · SlovakiaPartner
EIT Culture & Creativity North Oy · FinlandPartner

Other open calls from BP26-28 EITCC

Open Call for New Ventures in Creative Tech (Spark)BP26-28 EITCC · closes 16 Nov 2026

Similar open calls from EU projects

Other cascade calls on related topics that you can apply to now.

Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What is cascade funding?: Cascade funding (also called financial support to third parties) is money the European Commission gives to an EU-funded project, which the project then passes on to startups, SMEs, researchers or other organisations through its own open calls. You apply to the project, not to the Commission, and the project's own call rules apply.
Who can apply?: Each call sets its own eligibility in its call document: usually organisations established in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country, often startups and SMEs. Check the call's eligibility section and the official guide before you apply.
Do I need a consortium?: Most cascade calls accept single applicants, which makes them one of the easiest ways into EU funding. Some calls ask for small teams; the call document says which.
How large are the grants?: Typically tens of thousands of euros per applicant and rarely more than €200,000, because the EU rules for financial support to third parties keep amounts per recipient modest. The exact maximum is in each call.
Can I combine it with other EU funding?: Yes, as long as the same costs are not funded twice. Many startups use a cascade grant to build evidence before applying to larger programmes such as the EIC Accelerator.

Cascade funding in the glossary · All open cascade calls

What this call funds

Eligibility & conditions+

Official source

Confirm the current call documents and submission conditions with the funding authority.

View on EU portal ↗

Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal · synced 2026-11-09

Open call for proposals Innovation projects

The project running this call: BP26-28 EITCC

Who runs it: the consortium

Other open calls from BP26-28 EITCC

Similar open calls from EU projects

Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What this call funds

Official source

Track this call and plan your application.

Open call for proposals Innovation projects

The project running this call: BP26-28 EITCC

Who runs it: the consortium

Other open calls from BP26-28 EITCC

Similar open calls from EU projects

Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What this call funds

Official source

Track this call and plan your application.