Strategic Innovation Fund
Introduction
The EBU Strategic Innovation Fund aims to support and facilitate the development of big projects in media (content or technology) that aim to solve a strategic challenge for the survival and/or sustainability of public service media (PSM). With this fund, the EBU aims to encourage and support Members to explore innovation projects that would benefit their organizations and the community at large.
What are we looking for
Innovation projects that aim to increase PSM audiences, reduce costs or drive commercial revenues for the Members and EBU:
- Big projects that require financing for their development stage
- Projects supporting all Members and help them stay at par with other major players.
- Projects that aim to increase PSM audiences, reduce costs or drive commercial revenues for the Members and EBU will be prioritized
- Long shelf-life and legacy aspects
- Once the product is successfully developed and its potential proven, it must be sustainable without additional funding.
The EBU aims to
- Encourage big scale projects that would respond to a significant strategic need for the survival of public service media and the community at large
- Benchmark new projects in content and technology from Members that have potential to reach broader audiences or audiences hard to reach.
- Foster collaboration in projects developed by at least three members.
- Support a broad range of Members with innovative projects
The following points will be taken into consideration:
- Initiation: an individual EBU Member or an EBU department or unit can initiate a project. However, a project will only be considered for funding from the EBU Strategic Innovation Fund if at least two members co-fund a minimum of 10 % of the project.
- Innovation: what is the innovation brought by the project moving forward? Does it already exist on the market?
- Core to PSM: how does this impact PSM for the better?
- Members: does this support a broad range of Members, large and small?
- Scale: why is this something that an individual Member cannot develop?
- Sustainability: if the product is successfully developed and its potential proven, what will make it sustainable without additional funding from this fund?
- Adherence to Instructions: timeliness, completeness of application form, overall quality
Guidelines
- When submitting a project, define its purpose (ie. what strategic need you aim to fulfill and how it will benefit the wider EBU Membership).
- Your own organization needs to believe in your project by putting forward part of the funding.
- The application may be made by one individual member and must be co-funded by at least two additional members
- Proposals must be supported by at least 2 EBU Members, co-funding minimum 10% of the total value of the project.
- There is no restriction with regard to genre or duration.
- The Fund will finance only the development phase of the project.
Please refer to the complete EBU Strategic Innovation Fund Guidelines for more information.
Who can participate
The call is open to EBU Members only (https://www.ebu.ch/about/members)
If an independent production is submitted, this submission must be done via an EBU Member’s internal team.
How to apply
Please fill in the application form (.docx) and send your application to the attention of Anne Richardson, EBU Senior Project Manager, by email: [email protected]
If there are problems uploading files or inserting any specific information, please contact us directly.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is meant by “Strategic Innovation”?
A: We’re after big projects in media (content or technology) that aim to solve a strategic challenge for the survival and/or sustainability of public service media (“PSM”). The project(s) must involve at least three participating Members and must not only benefit your organization but the EBU community at large (including the EBU).
Q: What is meant by impact and sustainability?
A: Our main goal is to support projects that support PSM to increase reach or engagement with audiences, reduce costs or drive commercial revenues or increased competitive advantages for the EBU community at large (including the EBU). Once the product is successfully developed and its potential proven, it must be sustainable without additional allocation from the EBU Strategic Innovation Fund.
Q: Who is eligible to apply ?
A: The EBU Strategic Innovation Fund is currently set up for EBU members https://www.ebu.ch/about/members (excluding EBU associates and/or EBU approved participants) (“Member” and/or “Members”). A project may be initiated by one Member organization but at least two additional Member organizations shall contribute to the project.
You can find additional questions and answers here.
Documents
EBU Strategic Innovation Fund Guidelines (.PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions (.PDF)
Application Form (.DOCX)