WORTH Partnership Project II: 70 new Innovative and Design-Driven Projects Awarded

70 new design-driven business projects have been awarded support and recognition under the 2^nd Call for proposals of the WORTH Partnership Project II.

The selected projects involve in total 161 partners from 25 EU and COSME countries and they have been selected from 123 proposals, involving 276 partners from 29 EU and COSME countries which submitted proposals to the second call. Each project is put forward by an international partnership of two or three partners.

The WORTH Partnership Project is the EU’s premier incubation programme fostering international collaboration among creatives and SMEs for innovative business ideas in the lifestyle industries.  It is implemented by the European Commission thanks to the EU Programme for the Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME).

The 70 winning projects demonstrating the shared interest among designers, SMEs, manufacturers, and technology providers in developing innovative ideas contribute to the objectives of the green and digital transition. They span various sectors, including textiles, fashion and home decoration, furniture, jewellery, accessories, and more. They tackle crucial challenges such as:  circular economy, sustainable production, digitized manufacturing, innovative and smart materials, social innovation, and preservation of Europe’s cultural heritage. 

The selection process went through a thorough and carefully designed course of action. The Worth II Steering Board was key to find out the most innovative business ideas. The Steering Board is composed by 17 renowned experts in fashion, industrial and product design, arts and architecture: LUISA BOCCHIETTO, architect; PIRJO KÄÄRIÄINEN, associate professor, designer and material enthusiast; FRANCO CAIMI, Chief Executive Officer of Caimi Brevetti; ANNA SZONYI, award-winning multidisciplinary designer; ALEXANDRA PISCO, founder and CEO of Pisco & Co; TIRZA BREMS, buying strategy manager and innovation expert in the fashion and textile industries; ASSAAD AWAD, luxury leatherwork designer; GWEN CUNNINGHAM, lead in sustainability & circular economy; JANOS KERESNYEI, president of Hungary’s creative industries cluster; KOEN SNOECKX, keynote speaker, workshop leader, innovation manager; LESLIE HOLDEN, co-founder, the Digital Fashion Group; MARGARET LARMUTH, design lecturer and international fashion expert; UBALDO SPINA, director of the design department at CETMA; SEBASTIAN THIES, founder & designer of brand nat-2™; RAIJA SIIKAMAKI, CEO Formconcrete Ltd design agency; JAN LEYSSENS, designer, entrepreneur and activist working on circular economy and social innovation; JANOS KERESNYEI President of Hungary’s creative industries cluster ; PARVINDER MARWAHA Architect and Design programme manager at the British Council.

To successfully develop their products, services or business ideas, all awarded projects will receive in addition to financial support, a tailored mentoring programme worth 60.000 EUR during next 10 months as well as networking and visibility.

WORTH Partnership Project II continues to empower and connect creative professionals, contributing to a thriving creative ecosystem in Europe. The first call of WORTH II , dedicated to the New European Bauhaus,  resulted in the selection of 65 transnational partnerships, and the high participation rates have paved the way for future impactful projects. A third call for proposals   is planned to be published in autumn 2023.