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Call key data
A world leading European video game innovation system
Funding Program
Horizon Europe - Cluster 2 - Destination 2: Innovative research on the European cultural heritage and the cultural and creative industries
Call number
HORIZON-CL2-2023-HERITAGE-01-06
deadlines
Opening
14.12.2022
Deadline
14.03.2023 17:00
Funding rate
100%
Call budget
€ 12,000,000.00
Estimated EU contribution per project
between € 3,000,000.00 and € 4,000,000.00
Link to the call
Link to the submission
Call content
Call objectives
The video game industry has shown exceptional growth and a fast paced evolution since its inception in the 1970’s. In 2019, the size of the European Union video game market was over EUR 20 billion, a growth of 55% compared to 2014. 51% of the Union’s population played video games in 2019. Most forecasts predict continued rapid growth both in usage, turnover and added value for the foreseeable future.
The video game industry is in many ways a pioneer when it comes to harnessing the digital transition to create attractive products and rewarding experiences for its users. Also, the video game industry drives the development of new methods and technologies which have proven valuable in other industries, such as the automotive and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in the public sector.
Thus, the video game industry is not only a key channel of increasing importance for the expression of culture and creativity in Europe, but also a major economic sector in itself, and a vital driver of innovation in other economic sectors. Yet, the potential contributions to European economic growth, well-being, sustainability and social cohesion, and how to mobilise this potential, has not been thoroughly researched.
Research should address these gaps in knowledge, and develop recommendations for how to support sustained innovation, growth and competitiveness in the European video games sector, as well as for how to encourage the uptake of know-how and new technologies in other economic sectors.
The European cultural heritage and arts are diverse and uniquely renowned, and the European creative tradition strong. Such factors can constitute an important source of competitiveness for the sector.
Parts of Europe are often considered examples of success in the video game industry, such as Sweden, France or Finland, where some leading companies are headquartered and where the sector produce sizeable contributions to gross domestic product (GDP) and export revenues. Other parts of Europe, however, punch below their weight. Proposals should therefore involve different Member States/Associated Countries, in order to develop recommendations that are valid on a European scale.
The value chain – or ecosystem – of the video game industry is complex, diverse and rapidly evolving, as is generally the case in creative industries. Key roles are played by established companies with well-known brands, small independent development companies and freelancers, as well as by distribution platforms of various kinds.
Proposals do not have to cover the entire ecosystem in all its complexity, but may chose a more limited focus to allow a stronger impact. Research should, however, properly take into account all parts of the ecosystem which are key in accordance with the chosen focus and scope. Proposals should therefore provide for engagement with a wide set of stakeholders, including relevant policymakers, to ensure that solutions/methodologies developed are effective and economically, culturally and politically feasible at a European level.
Proposals should build on existing knowledge, activities and networks, notably the ones funded by the European Union. Furthermore, funded proposals should establish links and seek synergies with closely related actions, such as relevant R&I actions funded by Horizon Europe or Horizon 2020.
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Expected results
- Well founded and prioritised recommendations for European policy, including R&I policy, to support sustained innovation and growth in the European video game industry.
- Methodology(ies), supported by evidence, to increment the use of video game know-how and technology to drive innovation in other economic sectors.
- Significant contributions towards a thriving European video game industry that contributes decisively to economic growth, job creation, physical and mental well-being as well as to social and cultural cohesion.
Eligibility Criteria
Regions / countries for funding
Moldova (Moldova), Albania (Shqipëria), Armenia (Հայաստան), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosna i Hercegovina / Босна и Херцеговина), Faeroes (Føroyar / Færøerne), Georgia (საქართველო), Iceland (Ísland), Israel (ישראל / إِسْرَائِيل), Kosovo (Kosova/Kosovë / Косово), Montenegro (Црна Гора), Morocco (المغرب), North Macedonia (Северна Македонија), Norway (Norge), Serbia (Srbija/Сpбија), Tunisia (تونس /Tūnis), Türkiye, Ukraine (Україна), United Kingdom
eligible entities
EU Body, Education and training institution, International organization, Natural Person, Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) / Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Other, Private institution, incl. private company (private for profit), Public Body (national, regional and local; incl. EGTCs), Research Institution incl. University, Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)
Mandatory partnership
Yes
Project Partnership
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States
- third countries associated to Horizon Europe - see list of particpating countries
Only legal entities forming a consortium are eligible to participate in actions provided that the consortium includes, as beneficiaries, three legal entities independent from each other and each established in a different country as follows:
- at least one independent legal entity established in a Member State; and
- at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries.
Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from non-associated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call topic.
A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.
Specific cases:
- Affiliated entities — Affiliated entities (i.e. entities with a legal or capital link to a beneficiary which participate in the action with similar rights and obligations to the beneficiaries, but which do not sign the grant agreement and therefore do not become beneficiaries themselves) are allowed, if they are eligible for participation and funding.
- Associated partners — Associated partners (i.e. entities which participate in the action without signing the grant agreement, and without the right to charge costs or claim contributions) are allowed, subject to any conditions regarding associated partners set out in the specific call conditions.
- Entities without legal personality — Entities which do not have legal personality under their national law may exceptionally participate, provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf, and offer guarantees to protect the EU’s financial interests equivalent to those offered by legal persons.
- EU bodies — Legal entities created under EU law including decentralised agencies may be part of the consortium, unless provided for otherwise in their basic act.
- Joint Research Centre (‘JRC’)— Where provided for in the specific call conditions, applicants may include in their proposals the possible contribution of the JRC but the JRC will not participate in the preparation and submission of the proposal. Applicants will indicate the contribution that the JRC could bring to the project based on the scope of the topic text. After the evaluation process, the JRC and the consortium selected for funding may come to an agreement on the specific terms of the participation of the JRC. If an agreement is found, the JRC may accede to the grant agreement as beneficiary requesting zero funding or participate as an associated partner, and would accede to the consortium as a member.
- Associations and interest groupings — Entities composed of members (e.g. European research infrastructure consortia (ERICs)) may participate as ‘sole beneficiaries’ or ‘beneficiaries without legal personality’. However, if the action is in practice implemented by the individual members, those members should also participate (either as beneficiaries or as affiliated entities, otherwise their costs will NOT be eligible
Additional information
Topics
Relevance for EU Macro-Region
EUSAIR - EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, EUSALP - EU Strategy for the Alpine Space, EUSBSR - EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, EUSDR - EU Strategy for the Danube Region
UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs)
Additional Information
All proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funders & Tenders Portal electronic submission system (accessible via the topic page in the Search Funding & Tenders section). Paper submissions are NOT possible.
Proposals must be complete and contain all parts and mandatory annexes and supporting documents, e.g. plan for the exploitation and dissemination of the results including communication activities, etc.
The application form will have two parts:
- Part A (to be filled in directly online) contains administrative information about the applicant organisations (future coordinator and beneficiaries and affiliated entities), the summarised budget for the proposal and call-specific questions;
- Part B (to be downloaded from the Portal submission system, completed and then assembled and re-uploaded as a PDF in the system) contains the technical description of the project.
Annexes and supporting documents will be directly available in the submission system and must be uploaded as PDF files (or other formats allowed by the system).
The limit for a full application (Part B) is 45 pages.
Call documents
HE-Work Programme 2023-2024, Cluster 2, Destination 2HE-Work Programme 2023-2024, Cluster 2, Destination 2(1090kB)
Contact
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