Funding for the promotion of research and development activities in the creative industries and the utilisation of expertise in the creative industries

Financing
creative industries
research and development
Promotion

R&D funding to boost business in the creative industries

We help the creative industry to renew itself by providing financial services to companies in the creative industries and by encouraging other growth sectors to utilise creative expertise in their research and development activities.

The purpose of R&D funding for the creative industries is to increase research and development activities in the sector and to share the risk with companies and research organisations in projects that seek a competitive advantage in the international market.

EUR 9 million of Business Finland's grant authorisation will be allocated annually to support research and development activities in the creative industries.

Developing a competitive advantage is at the core of research and development. R&D funding can be applied for projects where the solution being researched and developed aims to gain a competitive advantage in a selected international market.

What are the creative industries?

From the perspective of business development, the business generated by creative expertise and creative industries can be divided into three themes. The classification is based on the classification of the Creative Economy Network of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which has been used in various contexts in Finland since 2012. Business Finland also examines the creative industries from a business perspective as follows:

Content that can be duplicated (e.g. audiovisual productions, games, music, publishing and their variants and hybrid models) where the business is based on the sale of intellectual property (IPR) and where digital platforms enable the duplication of content and scaling the business. Artificial intelligence and virtual reality have been identified as trends of change, as well as the connection to the tourism industry, logistics, and the catering and accommodation sectors, especially in terms of audiovisual content.
Creative services, where interactive cooperation relationships and the end results and sales of tangible expertise (e.g. architecture and product design) or intangible expertise (e.g. marketing, creative agencies, design, art-based services) are at the core of the business. The shift of the service structure from a single service event to a multi-channel approach and cross-sectoral business based on creative expertise have been identified as trends of change.
An event industry that is a globally growing market and generates significant economic impacts in the region. Events enable interaction between people and synergies between value networks. Sustainable development has been identified as a trend of change. Event brands have been developed towards sustainability.

Funding for companies' projects and joint projects between companies and research organisations

On 22 January 2025, Business Finland will open two funding calls, one for companies' R&D projects and the other for Co-Innovation projects carried out in cooperation with research organisations and companies.

Financing of enterprises' R&D projects

Business Finland's R&D funding can be granted for critical research work by companies in the creative industries, which aims at least to acquire new information for the industry and which creates capabilities for later development work, but which does not yet result in a finished product or service. In small and medium-sized enterprise projects, competitive advantage must be sought at least in the selected international market. In large companies' projects, the goal is to gain a global competitive advantage.

R&D funding can also be targeted at development work that renews or develops products, services, production methods or business models.

Companies in other industries can also apply for funding if the developmental solution, competitive advantage or novelty value is based on creative expertise and the utilisation of creative industry methods in research and development. Read more about tips on how to utilise the expertise and methods of the creative industries in other fields (pdf)

The development of products, services and business models can be supported in small and medium-sized enterprise projects with a 35 per cent grant instead of the normal 50 per cent loan. Depending on the research and the size of the company, the grant can be lower or higher, or a loan. In addition, companies in other industries can apply for funding if the solution designed in the project is based on creative expertise and the project costs include at least 40 per cent of the expertise of the creative industries.

Call for applications for funding for creative industries and companies utilising the creative sector

Funding for co-innovation projects between companies and research organisations

The Co-Innovation funding call is intended for joint projects between companies and research organisations that produce new research data for the creative sector and utilise the research expertise of the creative sector. Joint projects promote high-quality research and accelerate the renewal of Finnish companies' business operations and international growth, as well as the building of competitive ecosystems.

The companies and research organisations participating in the project have a common plan and goal, as well as their own project plan with goals.

Call for applications for funding for Co-Innovation projects of companies and research organisations in the creative industries

What do we fund and what do we not?

The targets and conditions of R&D funding granted by Business Finland are based on EU and national regulations.

When making a decision, Business Finland always evaluates the applicant company and the project. The company's business is examined as a whole. The evaluation of the project examines, among other things, the competitive advantage, the growth plan, the team and the sufficiency of funding.

The company must have a committed team of at least 2 people working in Finland. Individuals must already be working for the company when applying for funding.
For example, a minimum team consists of one 100% person and two 50% people in Finland. Individuals must already be working for the company when applying for funding.

What we fund

Business Finland can fund research and development projects that arise from customers' initiatives. Below are some examples that are intended to open up a perspective on possible targets for research and development:

Development or significant renewal of new or existing products, services, production methods and business models
Development of new technologies that improve and enhance production, which can be used to produce more efficiently, faster and higher quality in the future, for example, games, scripts, set designs, clothing collections and TV series
Development of a new payment system or production ecosystem for a content product
The development costs of a pilot or demo can be financed, for example, as part of the development of a new payment system when the goal is to verify the functionality of the solution in a limited environment.
Development of service concepts, revenue and business models. For example, international business models for content products, arts and culture
Shared intellectual property rights between industries to create a competitive advantage for several actors
Cooperation solutions between international events. For example, background work done in a new way to significantly improve artistic or technical quality can attract new audiences, create new technological platforms or promote sustainable development in a way that creates a competitive advantage. The method to be developed can be scaled up in other future events and forms of cooperation.
Researching, developing and testing new materials. What problems could the new material solve? How can you gain a competitive advantage with it?

A minor part of the project costs may include studies that support the utilisation possibilities of the solution to be developed, such as those related to customers or the market, such as:

Identification of customer and market needs for customers in relation to a product, service or concept under development. The survey ensures that there is genuine market demand for the solution being studied and developed in the project at the planned price.
An account of the company's customer's purchasing or distribution processes if a competitive advantage is sought in the supply chain or value network
Developing the company's organization or management to support the entry of the solution developed in the project into the international market.

What we don't fund

Business Finland does not fund one-person companies.

R&D funding is not granted

a one-time revenue model, such as AV production or serial production that is part of the company's normal business operations, a clothing collection or a music album
The company's routine core business, such as a new game, TV series, movie, music album, artwork, or clothing line.
Routine updates, improvements, seasonal changes, or aesthetic enhancements to products, services, and procedures.
sales, marketing, distribution, or related materials
Equipment, software or facilities other than those intended for the use of the project

Read more about Business Finland's funding terms:

Funding terms: Funding of companies' research and development activities (pdf)
Funding terms: Funding for public research (pdf)

Before applying for funding

Check out the frequently asked questions about funding for creative industries
What should be taken into account in the planning of an R&D project? Read more about the tips (pdf)

Preliminary questions

Before applying for R&D funding in the online application system, we ask you to answer the preliminary questions (max 2 A4 pages) in detail. Your answers will give Business Finland's expert the skills to advise your company when you are planning a project/application.

Call for applications for funding for creative industries and companies utilising the creative sector

Estimate the project's target revenue in the international market in euros.
What are the target countries and on what grounds have they been selected?
What is the problem to be solved?
What is the preliminary proposed solution?
What other competing alternatives have you identified in the targeted international market?
Who is the end user of the solution?
What are the concrete and measurable goals of a successful project?
How will the results of a successful project be utilized?
Making the project concrete: what kind of work packages does the project consist of? Also describe the financial and human resources required for the project and the source of self-financing required for the project.

Send your answer by email with the subject line "Company search" to luovat (at) businessfinland.fi. Our experts will contact you as soon as possible.

Call for applications for funding for Co-Innovation projects of companies and research organisations in the creative industries

What is the idea and goal of the joint project
Who are the applicants?
Other participants, if applicable

Send your answer by email with the subject line "Co-Innovation search" to luovat (at) businessfinland.fi. Our experts will contact you as soon as possible.

Growth in the creative industry is built in cooperation

Business Finland promotes the growth and internationalisation of the creative industry together with industry organisations and ministries.

The Growth Pact is a continuous way of engaging in dialogue between the public sector and the business community. The Growth Pact is also a concrete action plan in which the public sector and representatives of different sectors jointly define the sector's future growth and development goals and future business opportunities. The aim of the Growth Pact is to support the development, growth and internationalisation of companies in the sector through practical measures. The agreements explain the current state of each sector and propose objectives and measures. It is worth checking out: