Creative Connection

The aim of the program is to promote networking and collaboration within the creative industries, support innovative projects and increase the attractiveness of Stuttgart as a creative location. This includes measures to increase visibility, the organization and participation of events and projects.

• Making Stuttgart visible as a creative location: Funding is provided for targeted marketing activities aimed at increasing Stuttgart’s attractiveness as a creative location and retaining talent and skilled workers.

• Networking Stuttgart’s creative industries: Funding will be provided for targeted events and networking events that offer creative companies the opportunity to exchange ideas, form partnerships and develop joint projects. The aim is to strengthen cooperation within the industry and initiate further innovation activities. In addition to organizing events in Stuttgart, it is also possible to sponsor participation in congresses and trade fairs, for example.
• Initiating innovations and making Stuttgart’s creative industries fit for the future: Funding is to be provided for initiatives that promote cooperation between companies and universities, such as network meetings, workshops and innovation labs, for example, to meet the challenges of digitalization and new technologies.

The funding is aimed at companies in the commercial sector and the liberal professions, universities, colleges, associations and institutions with their own legal form. Unfortunately, private individuals cannot apply.

The current call for funding expired on 31.01.2025. Further calls will follow in 2025.

Based on the funding guidelines of the “Creative Connection” program, calls for funding are published at regular intervals by the City of Stuttgart. They contain information on the applicable deadlines and application procedures. The current call for funding is always binding at the time of application.

The maximum funding amount is usually 3,000 euros. Funding is provided as a non-repayable grant in the form of fixed-amount financing. The maximum funding rate is 70 percent of the expenses.

Fees and travel expenses for participation in congresses, events and trade fairs are funded at a maximum of 50 percent. Travel costs are also only funded at 50 percent, or a maximum of 500 euros. A total of 25,000 euros is available for funding.

Funding is awarded according to competitive criteria at the end of the deadline. This means that all funding applications received will be considered at the end of the deadline and evaluated according to the funding criteria. The exact funding priorities can be found under 6.2. of the funding guidelines. The following points are fundamentally important:

• Technical relevance/quality and persuasiveness of the application: how good and target-oriented and comprehensible is the application?
• Degree of innovation of the measure: How innovative and “new” is the project?
• Long-term impact of the measure: Is there a sustainable effect? Should the project be “kick-started” and then established in the long term?
• Contribution to sustainability and climate protection: How does the project contribute to sustainability goals (economic, ecological, social)?
• Incentive effect: Would the project not be able to take place without funding? What does the funding achieve that would not be possible without it?

Answers to the most frequently asked questions are summarized in the FAQ document in the download area. If you have any further questions, please contact  Dr. Hannah Laura Schneider.