EIT Culture & Creativity becomes IBC2026’s European Innovation Partner

Announced at the IBC Accelerator Media Innovation Programme’s Kickstart Day 2026, the partnership aims to create clearer pathways from proof-of-concept to deployment across the global media and entertainment (M&E) ecosystem – starting with the Accelerator Programme.

The partnership combines EIT Culture & Creativity’s pan-European network – supporting entrepreneurship and growth across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors – with IBC’s global reach through its conference, exhibition, and media platforms.

Under the agreement, EIT Culture & Creativity will contribute thought leadership and access to its ecosystem of start-ups, research institutions, creative clusters, and investors to support the Accelerator Programme. This kicked off with participation in an invitation-only strategic roundtable on innovation strategies on the eve of Kickstart Day. The roundtable focused on key trends and issues shaping the broadcast and audiovisual industry, including trusted media, intellectual property, authenticity, rights management, and artificial intelligence (AI).

“This new partnership promises to further accelerate innovation across the IBC community,” said Michael Crimp, Chief Executive of IBC. “Kickstart Day is where many of the industry’s next breakthroughs begin, so it’s the right moment to announce this collaboration. Working with EIT Culture & Creativity, we are strengthening the pathway for M&E innovators to engage with the international media leaders who come to IBC to invest, form partnerships, and bring new solutions to market.”

Anette Schaefer, CEO of EIT Culture & Creativity, added: “This partnership connects Europe's creative innovation ecosystem in the broadcast and audiovisual sector with its extensive industry network in a way that is practical, visible, and impactful. IBC is the ideal partner to help us demonstrate that culture and creativity sit at the heart of technology transformation.”

The Accelerator Programme’s Kickstart Day, held this year at BBC Broadcasting House, brings together leading broadcasters, streamers, technology vendors, start-ups, and academic partners to pitch and form collaborations around real-world industry challenges. It marks the start of a six-month fast-track innovation cycle culminating in live Proof of Concept (PoC) demonstrations in the Accelerator Zone at IBC2026 from 11–14 September.

The IBC Accelerator Media Innovation Programme recently announced the 12 project concepts scheduled to pitch their ideas to a live audience at Kickstart Day 2026, taking place on 25th Feb at BBC Broadcasting House, London. Discover more here