CreaDemo, CreMa, DigiDemo

CreaDemo grants are intended for projects developing the creative industries and cultural entrepreneurship.

Grants are funded from the Ministry of Education and Culture government transfer to AVEK from the State budget lottery and pools proceeds allocated for art and culture promotion.

The Ministry of Education and Culture annually confirms the total sum of CreaDemo programme support funds in government transfers to AVEK.

In 2020, AVEK can grant a maximum of 500,000 € of CreaDemo and CreMA support.

AVEK application and decision-making process

First deadline for the 2020 CreaDemo applications is 1 April and the second 30 September 2020. Applications must be submitted at 4pm at the latest on the final filing date.

The aim is that the support decisions are made within 2 months after the closing the date of the application period.

Applicants will receive information of the decisions in writing. Applicants with approved applications will sign a contract specifying i.a. details concerning the payments, use of the support, and the final report.

Support will be paid in two installments. First installment will be paid as soon as possible after signing the contract, the second after the final report has been approved. The first installment is usually circa 80% of the support granted.

What and whom is the support intended for?

CreaDemo grants are awarded to companies, professionals, or organisations engaged in professional business with project development; projects seeking new products or service innovations for the creative industries. The aim of the grant is to create a new product, method, or a service based on or utilising creative expertise.

Projects supported may incorporate various sectors of the creative industry or culture, and they can be aimed at the promotion of productization or market launch of creative industry products or services.

Grants can be awarded for the production of a demo, pilot, prototype, or concept design.

Demo, proto or pilot support can be only awarded for legally competent companies and organisations engaged in professional business registered in Finland before the closing date of the application period.

Concept support can also be awarded to private individuals, sole traders, or working groups. The accountable project leader named by the working group acts as the applicant.

Support will not be granted for:

• already completed product development
• retroactively for costs incurred before the closing date of the application period
• projects already at the demo, pilot, or proto phase
• basic activities, fixed costs, or marketing costs of the company or organisation
• purchase of core software or equipment
• manufacture of educational material for general education, vocational education, or higher education
• creation and production of single works of art
• online store and content or service marketing development
• theses or development of theses
• product development projects for the applying company’s client

The appropriation will also not be used to support product development of cultural content projects intended for digital terminals, or the productisation of cultural tourism. The Ministry of Education and Culture has a separate state subsidy for these.

The amount of demo, pilot, and proto support varies from circa 10,000 to 30,000 euros. A grant of maximum of 5,000 can be awarded for concept planning.

What are the application evaluation criteria?

Support is granted on a discretionary basis. Experts base appraisal and reciprocal comparison of applications on an overall evaluation.

Application evaluation focuses especially on the following:

• innovation value or other contentual innovation of the content or project to be developed
• validation of the need for the concept, demo, or pilot
• proof of the applicant’s previous experience of similar activity
• applicant’s financial situation

Demo, proto, and pilot support

The aim of demo support is to develop a content plan into a demo, prototype, or a pilot to present the project to i.a. financers or distributors for production on a commercial scale.

The application evaluators will also consider:

• content and development plan of the demo
• the project’s envisaged revenue generation model
• the marketing or distribution plan for the completed product
• a competitive analysis: comparison of the project to similar domestic or international products or contents already on the market
• cost estimate for the demo, prototype or pilot and an assessment of the cost of the final product. 
• To support their project, the applicant can also request assessments or statements from other operators that provide funding for business activities, such as a Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Business Finland, municipal or regional economic development companies/departments, Finnish Enterprise Agencies or similar. The applicant must request a recommendation personally in good time and attach it to their application.

Concept support

The aim of concept support is to develop the idea of a content project into a concept.

In addition of the points mentioned above, the application evaluators will also consider:

• plan for the concept’s content and development
• plan for the concept’s further development

What terms apply for the use of the support?

Support may only be used for the specific purpose it has been granted for and under the conditions and terms defined in the contract signed by the applicant.

Demo, prototype and pilot support may total 80% of the admissible costs of the project (see “support will not be awarded for” above). For concept support, no self-financing share is required.

The expenses associated with grants and support are taken into account from the submission date of the application onwards.

CreaDemo grants are EU state aid regulation compatible de minimis (minor) support. The maximum total of the support is 200,000 euros per company during a period of three consecutive tax years. The maximum sum includes all financing granted as de minimis support for the company by public financiers. The company must declare all de minimis support granted to it by all financiers during the present year and the two previous years.

CreaDemo grants are taxable income for a company or private individuals. The beneficiary must declare the support received to tax authorities.

The beneficiary must determine whether he has an obligation to observe procurement procedures, and act accordingly. Even a support beneficiary outside state, municipalities or congregations may be required to publicly ask for bids according to the law for procurement procedures (Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts 29.12.2016/1397).

Why the application may be rejected

The application will be rejected if the applicant has not given all requested and required reports of the previous AVEK CreaDemo support awarded to the applicant and stipulated in the contracts made.

How to apply for support

Support will be granted on application.

The application is made via the AVEK online application system. The application form includes instructions for filling the form.

The application must include the following information:

Demo, proto and pilot support

• project description, script or other content or product development plan
• production plan and schedule of the demo, proto or pilot
• budget
• marketing and distribution plan
• account of applicant’s previous activity and financial situation. (Latest annual report and auditor’s report. If the company form does not oblige to compulsory reporting, an informal financial account is sufficient.)

Concept support

• project description or other content or product development plan
• account of applicant’s previous activity / CVs of a private individual or working group applicants (if the applicant is a private individual or a working group)

The type of grant or support based on the criteria of which an application is assessed can be changed by AVEK if doing so is considered to benefit the applicant.

In 2020, AVEK can grant a maximum of 260,000 € of CreMa. The aim is to launch multidisciplinary pilot projects in the creative industries and other industries and thus promote the creation of new products, services or operating models. CreMA is a flexible grant which is intended for merging together the expertise of creative and other fields and for developing cooperation and business models. AVEK distributes CreMa grants from funds allocated to it by the Ministry of Education and Culture for the multidisciplinary product development collaboration of companies in the creative industries.

The objective of funded projects is to make new products and services available on the market. From the perspective of company business development, the projects involve transferring know-how in the creative industries to other industries and vice versa. CreMa grants allow entrepreneurs in the creative industries to establish long-term and broad partnerships and business opportunities. From the perspective of other industries, the grants enable creative know-how to be utilised in the development of business operations.

Applicants should create networks so that a single project can include several creative industry companies as applicants, facilitating the creation of new partnerships and ecosystems and multidisciplinary business environments. Projects can also involve company networks from other industries.

How to apply for CreMA support

First deadline for the 2020 CreMA applications is 1 April and the second 30 September 2020. Applications must be submitted at 4pm at the latest on the final filing date.

Application is submitted via the AVEK online application system.

When applying for financing please note that

• the applicant must be a creative industry company or a network of several companies
• projects should primarily include at least one cooperation partner that is a company in the manufacturing, service or some other industry that is not considered part of the creative industries or a network thereof, but networking projects between creative industry companies only will also be considered.
• written commitment to the project by the collaborating company / network from another branch of business must be annexed to the application

The application should also answer the following points

• revenue logic of the project’s product or service
• how to productise the product or service
• competitive analysis, i.e. are there already similar products of services on the market
• determining of the product or service’s target group
• what is the project’s international potential

Support will not be granted for the company’s basic activities or

• purchase of equipment
• production of a single work or product
• development of the company’s marketing related to its basic activity
• product development projects or other commissions for the applicant company’s client

Applicants are required to have a self-financing share

• CreMa funding can cover 80% of the project’s total costs.
• Applicant’s own labour costs or the usage of own appliances can be included in the 20% self-financing share – own labour costs per hour can be 19€ and the usage of own appliances should be priced as maximum of 60 % of the rental price of equivalent appliances.
• Financial contribution from the project partner from another line of business is desirable but not mandatory.

Evaluation criteria

The support is intended for the launching of pilot projects with the creative industries in collaboration with manufacturing industry, service industry, and other lines of business.

CreMa support promotes projects that

• create new products, services, or operating models
• improve collaboration between different lines of business, especially the consolidation of creative expertise and more traditional corporate knowhow to create new business
• develop entrepreneurship within the creative industries.

The projects to be supported must have a significant impact on the company’s business. They must be innovative and generally relevant to the company. Projects should also meet the normal criteria for supported projects set by the ELY Centres.

Wages with withheld taxes are eligible costs for the CreMa financing share.

The expenses associated with grants and support are taken into account from the submission date of the application onwards.

Project evaluation places particular emphasis to

• novelty value
• innovativeness
• financial viability
• business potential
• international potential
• networking

For projects receiving a favourable financing decision, the grant will be paid in two installments:

• 80% after the financing decision
• 20% after approved reporting.

Project reporting follows the AVEK DigiDemo and CreaDemo practices.

CreMa support is de minimis (minor) support with a maximum grantable total of 200,000 euros during a period of three consecutive tax years. The maximum sum includes all financing awarded as de minimis support for the company by all public financiers.

Regionality

CreMa funding is implemented in co-operation with the ELY Centres (Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment). Before submitting an application, applicants are encouraged to contact the ELY Centre contact person in their area:

South Ostrobothnia: marjut.leppanen (at) ely-keskus.fi
South Savo: tuija.toivakainen (at) ely-keskus.fi
Häme: tuomo.kauha (at) ely-keskus.fi
Southeast Finland: ritva.kaikkonen(at)ely-keskus.fi, juha.linden(at)ely-keskus.fi
Kainuu: atte.laitinen (at) ely-keskus.fi
Central Finland: lea.goyal(at)ely-keskus.fi and pirjo.suhonen(at)ely-keskus.fi
Lapland: minna.uusihanni (at) ely-keskus.fi ja risto.lustila (at) businessfinland.fi
Pirkanmaa: jukka.kohonen(at)ely-keskus.fi, kirsi.rajahalme(at)ely-keskus.fi
Ostrobothnia: henrik.granqvist(at)ely-keskus.fi
North Karelia: sanna.ruuska(at)ely-keskus.fi
North Ostrobothnia: paivi.lappalainen(at)ely-keskus.fi,  erja.leppala (at) ely-keskus.fi 
North Savo: eija.pihlaja (at) ely-keskus.fi
Satakunta: carita.vastinesluoma(at)ely-keskus.fi
Uusimaa: henri.molander(at)ely-keskus.fi
Southwest Finland: timo.metsa-tokila(at)ely-keskus.fi
In Southwest Finland CreMA projects are also handled by:
HUMAK / Creve 2.0 Project: leena.janhila(at)humak.fi

AVEK can request ELY Centres or other operators that fund business operations to assess/provide statements on applications.

The type of grant or support based on the criteria of which an application is assessed can be changed by AVEK if doing so is considered to benefit the applicant.

DigiDemo support is intended for product development of new audiovisual or other cultural content applicable for digital terminals.

Grants are funded from the Ministry of Education and Culture government transfer to AVEK for the implementation of the DigiDemo programme, the State Budget item “lottery and pools proceeds for art promotion”.

The Ministry of Education and Culture annually confirms the total sum of DigiDemo subsidy granted to AVEK.

In 2020, AVEK can grant a maximum of 720,000 euros of DigiDemo support.

AVEK application period and decision-making process

AVEK awards DigiDemo support twice annually. First deadline for the 2020 DigiDemo applications is 1 April and the second 30 September 2020. Applications must be submitted at 4pm at the latest on the final filing date.

We aim to make the support decisions within two months of the closing of the application period.

Decisions are announced to applicants in writing. Approved applicants will make a separate contract specifying e.g. the payment and the use of the support and matters concerning the final report.

Support will be paid in two installments. First installment will be paid as soon as possible after the signing of the contract, the second after final report has been approved. The first installment is usually circa 80% of the support granted.

What and whom is the support intended for?

DigiDemo is a product development support intended for the development of new audiovisual or other cultural content and narrative forms. Support can be awarded for the production of a demo, the pilot episode of a serial programme, or for concept planning.

Demo or pilot support can only be awarded for legally competent companies registered before the closing of the application period (excluding sole traders).

Concept support can also be awarded to private individuals, sole traders, or working groups. The applicant will be the accountable project leader named by the working group.

Support will not be granted for:

• already completed product development
• retroactively for costs incurred before the closing date of the application period
• projects already at the pilot or demo phase
• basic activities, fixed costs, or marketing costs of the company
• purchase of core software or equipment
• manufacture of educational material giving general education, vocational education, or higher education
• exclusively technology-oriented projects
• creation and production of single works of art
• online store and content or service marketing development
• theses or developing theses

The appropriation will also not be used to support product development of cultural content projects intended for digital terminals or the productisation of cultural tourism, for which the Ministry of Education and Culture has a separate state subsidy.

The amount of demo and pilot support varies from circa 10,000 to 30,000 euros. A grant of maximum of 5,000 euros can be awarded for concept planning.

What are the criteria for application evaluation?

Support is granted on a discretionary basis. Experts base appraisal and reciprocal comparison of applications on an overall evaluation.

Application evaluation focuses especially on the following:

• innovation value or other contentual innovation of the content or project to be developed
• validation of the need for the concept, demo, or pilot
• proof of the applicant’s previous experience of similar activity
• applicant’s financial situation

Demo and pilot support

The aim of demo and pilot support is to develop a content project refined into a concept into a demo or pilot to present the project to i.a. financers or distributors for production on a commercial scale.

The application evaluators will also consider:

• content and development plan of the demo
• the project’s envisaged revenue generation model
• the marketing or distribution plan for the completed product
• a competitive analysis: comparison of the project to possible similar domestic or international products or contents already on the market
• cost estimate of the demo or pilot and an assessment of the cost of the final product.
• To support their project, the applicant can also request assessments or statements from other operators that provide funding for business activities, such as a Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Business Finland, municipal or regional economic development companies/departments, Finnish Enterprise Agencies or similar. The applicant must request a recommendation personally in good time and attach it to their application.

Concept support

The aim of concept support is to develop the idea of a content project into a demo or pilot.

In addition of the points mentioned above, the application evaluators will also consider:

• plan for the concept’s content and development
• plan for the concept’s further development

What terms apply for the use of the support?

Support may only be used for the specific purpose it has been granted for and under the conditions and terms defined in the contract signed by the applicant.

Demo and pilot support may total 80% of the admissible costs of the project.

The expenses associated with grants and support are taken into account from the submission date of the application onwards.

DigiDemo support is EU state aid regulation compatible de minimis (minor) support. The maximum total of the support is 200,000 euros per company during a period of three consecutive tax years. The maximum sum includes all financing awarded as de minimis support for the company by public financiers. The company must declare all de minimis support granted to it by all financiers during the present year and two previous years.

DigiDemo support is taxable income for the company or private individuals. The beneficiary must declare the support received to tax authorities.

The beneficiary must determine whether he has an obligation to observe procurement procedures, and act accordingly. Even a support beneficiary outside state, municipalities or congregations may be required to publicly ask for bids according to the law for procurement procedures (Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts 29.12.2016/1397).

Why the application may be rejected

The application will be rejected it the applicant has not given all requested and required reports of the previous AVEK DigiDemo supports awarded to the applicant and stipulated in the contracts made.

How to apply for support

Support will be awarded on application.

The application is made via the AVEK online application system. The application form includes instructions for filling the form.

The application must include the following information:

Demo, prototype and pilot support

• project description, script or other content or product development plan
• demo / pilot production plan and schedule
• budget
• marketing and distribution plan
• account of applicant’s previous activity and financial situation. (Latest annual report and auditor’s report. If the company form does not oblige to compulsory reporting, an informal financial account is sufficient.)

Concept support

• project description or other content or product development plan
• account of applicant’s previous activity / CVs of a private individual or working group applicants (if the applicant is a private individual or working group)

The type of grant or support based on the criteria of which an application is assessed can be changed by AVEK if doing so is considered to benefit the applicant.