This document discusses the ACE Creative project which received €1 million in funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme. The project will provide customized support programs to 100 ICT-driven creative SMEs to help them connect with clients, investors, and international business networks to accelerate their growth. It will also organize international bootcamps and networking events to connect participating SMEs with relevant contacts and opportunities across Europe. The overall goal is to stimulate innovation and market access for creative SMEs utilizing advanced ICT technologies.

1. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
Horizon 2020 Creative Industries ProjectFactory
Brussels, 15 2015

2. Call for Proposals H2020 ICT 18
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
b. Coordination and Support Actions to stimulate the growth of European
creative industries exploiting advanced ICT for the development of new
products and services and ICT SMEs innovating in the field of creative
industries. Activities should:
- include, where beneficial, investor readiness support (e.g. explaining
investors' requirements, assisting in the development of business plans …).
- connect creative industries SMEs with appropriate sources of funding (e.g.
loans, venture capital, business angels investment, crowd-funding …) and with
international business networks.
- increase the market access of creative industries SMEs across borders.
The proposals should encompass a broad geographical coverage, stimulating
innovation not only in the leading regions of Europe.

3. H2020 ICT 18 Expected Impact
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
b. Coordination and Support Actions
- An established sustainable network of ICT-driven innovation
multipliers active in the creative industries sectors with proven
record of stimulating innovation.
- Tens of examples of fruitful business relations enabled by the
network.

4. ACE Creative in Numbers
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
 €1 million over 2 years
 11 partners (8 SME-facing) and 6 associates
 100 Customised Support Programmes for ICT-driven creative SMEs
 30 funded trips to Creative Business Cup Finals
 400 SMEs participating on one of 15 ACE Creative International
Bootcamps
 1000 SMEs engaged in online support platform
 Network of 100+ associate partners providing business and
technology support to ICT-driven creative SMEs

5. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
End-Users
ICT-driven creative SMEs, i.e. creative SMEs working with
cutting-edge ICT technologies and/or ICT SMEs developing
cutting-edge technologies for the creative industries

6. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
Geographic Reach

7. ACE Creative in Practice
ACE Creative will select the
top 100 ICT-driven creative
SMEs in Europe, connect
them with each other and
set them up with a support
team across Europe.
Our international team will
then help identify and
introduce them to the
clients, investors and
contacts they need to grow
their business
internationally.
ACE Creative is about helping
ICT-driven creative businesses
to accelerate and grow
internationally.
How?
By connecting companies with
clients, investors and useful
contacts in other countries.
A note to business support
organisations & technology
providers: we want you!
If your organisation is
providing support services to
ICT-driven creative businesses,
we invite you to register at
ACE Creative, profile your
service offer and bring your
companies on board.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.

8. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
It’s not rocket science!

9. European BIC Network
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
 EBN is an open community for any business support organisation whose
mission is to help entrepreneurs, start-ups or innovative SMEs

10. ACE Acceleration Programme
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
 Customised support plan for the top 100+ most innovative ICT companies
in Europe with the potential to internationalise – competitive selection
 Local mentor, international support team, pitching opportunities,
international summit → Italian company looking to enter the UK market?
Our UK mentor will treat you like a local!

11. ACE Creative
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
 Customised support plan for the top 100+ most innovative ICT-
driven creative companies in Europe with the potential to
internationalise – call now open at www.acecreative.eu!
 Local mentor, international support team, pitching
opportunities, international bootcamps, annual international
showcase event, online resource centre

12. First Bootcamps
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
 Luxembourg at ICT Spring 2015, 19-20 May:
http://www.ictspring.com/
 Spain at Gamelab Barcelona, 25 June:
http://www.gamelab.es/2015/
 International bootcamps → 25-50 SME participants, at least 5-
10 (i.e. 20%) from outside host country

13. Call for Proposals H2020 ICT 18
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
b. Coordination and Support Actions to stimulate the growth of European
creative industries exploiting advanced ICT for the development of new
products and services and ICT SMEs innovating in the field of creative
industries. Activities should:
- include, where beneficial, investor readiness support (e.g. explaining
investors' requirements, assisting in the development of business plans …).
- connect creative industries SMEs with appropriate sources of funding (e.g.
loans, venture capital, business angels investment, crowd-funding …) and with
international business networks.
- increase the market access of creative industries SMEs across borders.
The proposals should encompass a broad geographical coverage, stimulating
innovation not only in the leading regions of Europe.

14. H2020 ICT 18 Expected Impact
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
b. Coordination and Support Actions
- An established sustainable network of ICT-driven innovation
multipliers active in the creative industries sectors with proven
record of stimulating innovation.
- Tens of examples of fruitful business relations enabled by the
network.

15. Are you into the latest technologies?
Do you have a disruptive business idea?
Can you grow internationally?
Get involved at www.acecreative.eu
Is your creativity dying to burst out?
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.

16. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 644386.
THANK YOU!