NRW · Germany · Europe

Funding Creative AI Projects

Money that is actually available.

Grants, scholarships, residencies, and EU programs — all verified, all relevant.

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EUOpen

EU Grant

EIT Culture & Creativity: financial support for start-ups and scale-ups (Shape Acceleration & Scale Post-Acceleration)

Open call of EIT Culture & Creativity for tech-enabled, IP-based start-ups and scale-ups in the cultural and creative sectors: up to €500,000 financial support plus venture development services for growth, investor readiness and international expansion. The 2027 cohort first addresses fashion, architecture and audiovisual media; 50 ventures funded, projects start January 2027.

10 days left · Deadline: 12 Oct 2026, 17:00 CEST

Online application via the EIT Culture & Creativity portal; info webinar on 22 Sep 2026Projects start January 2027; evaluation Oct–Dec 2026

Shape: up to €100,000 plus top-up; Scale: higher amounts, up to €500,000 in total; up to 100% of eligible costsEIT Culture & Creativity

DüsseldorfOpen

Grant

Kulturamt Düsseldorf — Bildende Kunst / Medienkunst

Project funding for visual art and media art with a Düsseldorf connection. Direct fit for AI media art, digital installations and public-space art projects.

30 days left · Deadline: 1 Nov 2026 (for 2027 projects)

Usually €500–€10,000; small projects up to €3,000 full financing

Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf / KulturamtMore →

NRWOpen

Grant

2.000 × 1.000 Euro — Digital in die Zukunft: KI & Co.

Micro-grant for civic associations and community groups running AI or digital creative projects in NRW. Fixed €1,000 grant, up to 2,000 projects funded.

30 days left · Applications until 1 Nov 2026; project must finish by 31 Dec 2026

€1,000 fixed grant

Land NRW / Staatskanzlei NRWMore →

NRWOpen

Media Funding

Made in NRW — Stoffentwicklung (Film- und Medienstiftung NRW & WDR)

Entwicklungsförderung für in NRW ansässige Produzent:innen gemeinsam mit Autor:innen/Regie aus NRW. Bis zu 6 Projekte pro Jahr (fiktional und non-fiktional), max. 50.000 € pro Projekt. Teil der neuen Förderstrategie 2026 der Film- und Medienstiftung NRW.

Nächste Einreichung: Anfang 2027

max. 50.000 € pro Projekt; bis zu 6 Projekte/Jahr

Film- und Medienstiftung NRW & WDRMore →

NRWOpen

Grant

Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital (MID) — MID-Digitalisierung

Since 1 January 2026 NRW.BANK runs the MID programme, and MID-Digitalisierung now funds only companies developing or further developing a digital product based on key technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data mining, real-time processing or AR/VR. Applications run through a monthly lottery followed by the formal application.

Rolling — monthly lottery draw

50% funding rate, between €4,000 and €15,000

NRW.BANKMore →

NRWOpen

Grant

Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital (MID) — Digitalisierung

The NRW voucher programme for small and medium-sized companies developing market-ready digital products. Since 1 January 2026 NRW.BANK runs the programme and it is limited to digital products built on key technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data mining, real-time processing, AR or VR.

Rolling: monthly draw

50% of eligible costs, up to €15,000

NRW.BANKMore →

EUActive

EU Grant

PPPA 2026 — European TV and Video News Portal

Pilot/preparatory-action call for a pan-European TV and video news portal for streaming, search and translation of European TV/video news and political documentaries, including AI media infrastructure components.

2026 call — active

Funding amount in call document

European Commission / EU PPPAMore →

EUActive

EU Grant

PPPA 2026 — European Media Freedom Hub

Pilot/preparatory-action call for a European media freedom hub supporting media freedom and public-interest information infrastructure.

2026 call — active

Funding amount in call document

European Commission / EU PPPAMore →

EUActive

EU Grant

PPPA 2026 — Social Cohesion & Public Discourse

Pilot project call addressing social cohesion and polarized public discourse, relevant to media, communication, civic information ecosystems and public-interest content.

2026 call — active

Funding amount in call document

European Commission / EU PPPAMore →

NRWActive

Grant

MID-Digitalisierung 2026

NRW grant for SMEs building AI-supported digital products, services, AR/VR tools, chatbots and automation. Rolling applications through end of 2029.

Rolling — programme open until 31 Dec 2029

Up to €15,000; max 50% funding rate

Land NRW / MWIKE / NRW.BANKMore →