C-Accelerate Plus

C-Accelerate Plus is a European higher education initiative designed to boost innovation, entrepreneurship and creative capacity across arts and cultural education institutions. Building on the success of the original C-Accelerate project, this new phase expands participation to include both pioneer and novice higher education institutions (HEIs) across Europe. It embeds entrepreneurship, digital innovation and green transition practices into education, research and long-term institutional strategies within the cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI).

What is C-Accelerate Plus?

C-Accelerate Plus is part of the EIT Higher Education Initiative, funded by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT). The project aims to institutionalise entrepreneurial education and strengthen innovation ecosystems in creative higher education by connecting HEIs, industry partners and cultural stakeholders across Europe.

The consortium brings together universities and organisations from Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Finland and Denmark, working collaboratively to co-create new programmes, structures and opportunities that empower students, staff and researchers to develop entrepreneurial mindsets and launch creative ventures.

Key Activities & Outcomes

As part of this project, partners will:

Launch new accelerator formats and project-based incubation opportunities to support early-stage creative ventures.
Develop micro-credentials and specialised short courses to integrate entrepreneurial and innovation skills into curricula.
Create shared innovation structures, including creative factories and an Artistic Intelligence Transfer Office, to foster collaboration across institutions and sectors.
Build mentoring networks that connect students, academics, industry professionals and alumni.
Strengthen institutional support for entrepreneurship, helping HEIs embed entrepreneurial culture into their strategic frameworks.

Through these activities, C-Accelerate Plus seeks to transform how creative education supports innovation, start-up creation and sustainable societal impact across Europe.

Consortium Partners

The project unites a diverse group of (FilmEU) institutions and partners committed to advancing innovation in the arts and creative sectors:

Lusófona University – Portugal (Lead Partner)
Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design + Technology (IADT) – Ireland
FilmEU Association VZW – Belgium
LIETUVOS MUZIKOS IR TEATRO AKADEMIJA (LMTA) – Lithuania
LUCA School of Arts – Belgium
NATZIONALNA AKADEMIYA ZA TEATRALNO I FILMOVO IZKUSTVO “Krustyo Sarafov” (NATFA)– Bulgaria
SP Televisão, SA – Portugal
Tallinn University – Estonia
The Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (VŠMU) – Slovakia
Aalto University – Finland (Associated partner)
VIA University College – Denmark (Associated partner)