Innovative tools and business models

The Innovative tools and business models action is aimed at encouraging the development and/or the spread of innovative tools and business models to improve the visibility, availability, audience and diversity of European works in the digital age and/or the competitiveness and/or the greening process of the European audiovisual industry.

Expected results

• Improve the competitiveness of the European audiovisual industry and seize the benefits of the innovative developments in technology and business models;
• Improve the adaptation of the European audiovisual industry to the opportunities offered by Artificial Intelligence and the development of virtual worlds (also called Metaverse(s));
• Improve the greening process of the European audiovisual industry;
• Improve the production and circulation of European audiovisual works in the digital era;
• Increase the number and diversity of European works available online and increase their visibility in order to allow them to reach more audiences.

Description of the activities to be funded

The projects can include in particular:

• Subtitling or accessibility/discoverability/recommendation tools to be widely used across borders and across platforms in order to improve the visibility, the availability and the audience potential of European audiovisual works;
• Business tools improving the efficiency and the transparency of the audiovisual markets: automated rights management system, technology for data gathering and analysis;
• Business models seeking to optimise the synergies and complementarities between the distribution platforms (festivals, cinemas, VOD…);
• Business tools exploring new modes of production, financing, distribution or promotion enabled or enhanced by new technology (AI, big data, blockchain, Virtual worlds / Metaverse, NFT, etc.);
• Innovative tools and business models improving the greening process of the audiovisual industry.

The action does not cover the development of hardware (e.g. cameras, virtual headsets...).

Applications should present adequate strategies to ensure more sustainable and more environmentally-respectful industry and to ensure gender balance, inclusion, diversity and representativeness.

Transparency plays a key role in the action. Therefore, applications should contain plans for the disclosure of the inputs and results of the action, including among others communicating the results to public authorities, Member States and the audiovisual industry.

Special emphasis will also be placed on attracting private investment and on own investment. Project’s ability to apply for a sound and reasonable level of EU public funding below the 80% authorised will be assessed.