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Horizon Europe: Cluster 2 - Culture, Creativity and Inclusive society
Parent program | Horizon Europe |
Link to the program | research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu |
Content of program
short description | The activities in Cluster 2 "Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society" are primarily aimed at researchers and applicants from the humanities, social and cultural sciences and the arts. Projects on the various topics in this cluster make an innovative and application-oriented contribution to important and forward-looking research and social issues in Europe. |
program objectives | This cluster aims to strengthen European democratic values, including rule of law and fundamental rights, safeguarding our cultural heritage, and promoting socio-economic transformations that contribute to inclusion and growth. Areas of intervention
Destination 1: Innovative research on democracy and governance Current and future developments require new thinking on how democratic institutions at all levels can adapt. The main issues at stake are greater diversity, global competition, technological progress and digitalisation. Citizens' experiences with democratic discourses, practices and institutions are highly relevant for successful adaptation to these changes. Destination 2: Innovative research on the European cultural heritage and the cultural and creative industries For an inclusive society, a better understanding of our cultural heritage and how it is perceived is hugely important. Within Europe and beyond, cultural heritage is a driving force of European, national, regional and local economies. It is also a powerful source of inspiration for creative and cultural industries. Destination 3: Innovative research on social and economic transformations European society is undergoing profound socio-economic and cultural change. Globalisation and technological innovation have accelerated this change. At the same time, income inequality has increased in most European countries. Forward-looking policies are needed to promote sustainable and inclusive growth, gender equality and well-being, and to reduce inequalities. read more |
Expected effects and impacts | Proposals for topics under destination 1 should set out a credible pathway to contributing to the following expected impacts of the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan:
The implementation of the research activities of the destination will assist in the re-invigoration and modernisation of democratic governance. The aim is to develop evidence-based innovations, policies and policy recommendations, as well as institutional frameworks that expand political participation, social dialogue, civic engagement, gender equality and inclusiveness. Activities will also contribute to enhancing the transparency, effectiveness, accountability and legitimacy of public policy-making. They will help improving trust in democratic institutions, safeguarding liberties and the rule of law and protecting democracy from multidimensional threats. Rich historical, cultural and philosophical perspectives, including a comparative dimension, will set the frame for soundly understanding present developments and help to map future pathways. In the medium to long term, the knowledge, data, scientifically robust recommendations and innovations generated will enhance decision making on all aspects relevant to democratic governance. As the Destination aims directly at citizen engagement and at producing lasting change, it is of particular importance that the research and innovation actions promote the highest standards of transparency and openness. When applicable, it is encouraged to open up the process, criteria, methodologies and data to civil society in the course of the research. Proposals under destination 2 should consider and promote in a cross-cutting way, and whenever appropriate and applicable:
Proposals for topics under destination 3 should set out a credible pathway to contributing to the following targeted expected impacts of the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan:
Inclusive growth is boosted and vulnerabilities are reduced effectively through evidence-based policies for protecting and enhancing employment, education, social fairness and tackling inequalities, including in response to the socio-economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. read more |
Eligibility criteria
Regions / countries for funding | EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) Moldova (Moldova), Albania (Shqipëria), Armenia (Հայաստան), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosna i Hercegovina / Босна и Херцеговина), Canada, Faeroes (Føroyar / Færøerne), Georgia (საქართველო), Iceland (Ísland), Israel (ישראל / إِسْرَائِيل), Kosovo (Kosova/Kosovë / Косово), Montenegro (Црна Гора), New Zealand (Aotearoa), North Macedonia (Северна Македонија), Norway (Norge), Serbia (Srbija/Сpбија), Tunisia (تونس /Tūnis), Türkiye, Ukraine (Україна), United Kingdom |
eligible entities Partners |
Public Body (national, regional and local; incl. EGTCs), Education and training institution, Private institution, incl. private company (private for profit), Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) / Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), Other, Research Institution incl. University, EU Body |
Mandatory partnership | Yes |
Project Partnership | To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following 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:
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. |
other eligibility criteria | Specific cases:
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Additional information
Topics | Administration & Governance, Institutional Capacity & Cooperation, Arts & Culture, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, Demographic Change, European Citizenship, Migration, Digitalisation, Digital Society, ICT, Education & Training, Children & Youth, Media, Equal Rights, Human Rights, People with Disabilities, Social Inclusion |
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) |
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Program documents | Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025 Cluster 2 - Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society (1200kB) |
Contact | National Contact Points for Horizon Europe Website |
Open calls
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Advisory support and network to counter disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI)
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Bridging historical past and future potential through conservation, preservation, and adaptive use of Europe’s contentious and dissonant heritage
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Co-funded European partnership for Resilient Cultural Heritage
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Community of democracy practitioners and researchers
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Countering and preventing radicalisation, extremism, hate speech and polarisation
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Cultural Strategies for Peace: culture and creativity as catalysts for conflict prevention and post-conflict reconciliation
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Economic inequalities and their impact on democracy
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Europe as a global powerhouse of design for sustainable competitiveness
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Evaluation and use of evidence in education policy and practice
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Evolution of culture in a virtualising world
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Fighting against disinformation while ensuring the right to freedom of expression
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Fostering the consolidation of European science diplomacy
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Gender differences in career trajectories of parents and their implications for gender equality and family well-being
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Good practices for increased autonomy of persons with disabilities, including physical, mental, intellectual and sensory disabilities
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Historical and regional analyses of industrial transitions and their lessons for ensuring a fair green transition
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Impact of the learning environment and the use of digital tools in everyday life on key skills and competence development
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Impacts of culture and the arts on health and well-being
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Improving fairness in the economy through a better understanding of undeclared and underdeclared work
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Improving mental health outcomes for people in education, training and work
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Independence of the judiciary as an aspect of rule of law compliance
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Innovative approaches to intangible cultural heritage for societal resilience
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Intergenerational fairness in the context of demographic change in the EU
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Leveraging artificial intelligence for creativity-driven innovation
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Migration and climate change: building resilience and enhancing sustainability
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Open strategic autonomy, economic and research security in EU foreign policy
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Preparing the EU for future enlargement: challenges and opportunities
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Tackling gender-based violence in different social and economic spheres
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
The autocratic appeal: nature, drivers and strategies
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
The role of civic and citizenship education for strengthening civic and democratic participation and support for common European values
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Towards a European research hub on contemporary antisemitism and Jewish life and culture
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025
Working time reduction: barriers, challenges, benefits and policy implications
15.05.2025 - 16.09.2025