© Images: EIT Culture & Creativity GmbH
On May 13, 2025, our Director Paolo Montemurro, together with fellow partners from EIT Culture & Creativity, met with EU Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva — responsible for startups, research, and innovation in the second von der Leyen Commission — for what proved to be far more than a typical breakfast meeting at the European Parliament.
Hosted by MEP Christian Ehler, the event marked a pivotal moment in the growing recognition of EIT Culture & Creativity as a strategic voice in EU policy. Addressing an invited audience of 25 EIT Culture & Creativity partners, Commissioner Zaharieva called for greater engagement from the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) in shaping the future of EU research and innovation. She urged creatives, entrepreneurs, and organisations to connect more closely with DG Research & Innovation and take full advantage of the tools and funding available. Strikingly, she remarked: “Culture and creativity is one of the few sectors that doesn’t engage in lobbying – I’ve never even met representatives from the industry. The message I want to send is clear: the funds are finally available, but if you don’t tell us how to use them – or how you want them to be used – we risk missing a crucial opportunity.”
Top of the Agenda
A key focus of the discussion was, in fact, the role of CCSI in shaping the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034. As the newest EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community, EIT Culture & Creativity is uniquely placed to influence how future EU funding priorities are defined. Stefan Dobrev, Chair of the EIT Governing Board, described this as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to align cultural innovation with key EU initiatives like the New European Bauhaus to reinforce Europe’s resilience, cohesion, and global competitiveness.
By fostering cross-sector collaboration, EIT Culture & Creativity is building a dynamic ecosystem capable of responding to Europe’s biggest challenges with creativity, inclusion, and innovation. CEO Anette Schäfer also shared impressive early results: in 2025 alone, EIT Culture & Creativity has already supported around 70 startups across sectors ranging from fashion and gaming to cultural heritage and audiovisual media.
With strong engagement now established with both the European Commission and Parliament, EIT Culture & Creativity is preparing its next strategic moves. These include outreach to the Cultural Affairs Committee under the Danish Council Presidency, engagement with the Committee of the Regions, and coordination with the next EU Council Presidency. These efforts are critical steps toward advancing the case for a new legal basis for CCSI within EU frameworks and securing long-term support.
