S+T+ARTS is driven by the idea that science and technology combined with an artistic viewpoint delivers valuable perspectives for research and business. Recent STARTS projects address the use of AI-systems and Hyper-Performance computing for use cases such as media, disinformation, XR environments, climate change, food security, urban development, factory automation etc. through a number of dedicated sub-projects. In light of the continuing digitalisation of society, STARTS provides a holistic and human-centred approach.

Through its different pillars, S+T+ARTS offers:

Startup Europe is an initiative connecting high tech startups, scaleups, investors, accelerators, corporate networks, universities and the media to accelerate growth of the European startup scene. It is supported by a portfolio of EU funded projects and policy actions.

The Social Investment and Skills window facilitates: development of skills and key competences; the matching, deployment and higher skills utilisation through education, training, including on-the-job training and related activities. The window also supports projects involving social innovation, health services, ageing and long-term care, access to prevention, innovative treatments and e-health options, inclusion and accessibility, and cultural and creative activities with a social goal.

The Invest EU SME window facilitates access to and availability of finance primarily for SMEs and small mid-cap companies, including innovative ones and those operating in the cultural and creative sectors, as well as for small mid-cap companies. In addition, it offers capital support to SMEs that were not in difficulty in State aid terms already at the end of 2019, but since then face significant risks due to the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a cross-border exchange programme, allowing aspiring young entrepreneurs to work with and learn from more experienced entrepreneurs running small businesses in other countries.

The objective of the MEDIA 360° support is to exploit synergies among existing ecosystems, to develop further cooperation potential, to reach economies of scale across different supported activities, create impact across the value-chain. The action shall support a package of activities related to facilitating the creation and promotion of European content, and/or the uptake of new technologies or business models for the audiovisual sector.

The objective of the Markets & networking support is to enhance the promotion of European content in the global market and to foster cooperation among all parts of the audiovisual value chain for the co-creation and promotion of European audiovisual works. Cooperation of audiovisual professionals and promotion of European works are pursued by supporting two types of projects and activities:
• Markets focusing on a specific type of films and innovative content, or networking of markets that present similar genre/topics or are located in the same region;

Support will be given to the development of works and prototypes of interactive narrative storytelling with original content and/or quality gameplay intended for production and global commercial exploitation via PCs, consoles, mobile devices, tablets, smartphones and other technologies.

The objective of the Innovative tools and business models action is to strengthen the competitiveness, scalability and sustainability of the European players, as well as to improve the visibility and availability of European works and increase audiences in the digital environment.

The aim is to support projects focusing on the specific challenges of the audiovisual sector such as discoverability, sequencing of release windows, financing and territoriality in order to enable strong and visible offers of European works online and across borders to a wide public.

Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is a regional network, a one-stop-shop for SMEs seeking to improve their competitiveness. To do this, EEN provides SMEs with business support and advises them on opportunities on the internal market. EEN cooperates with regional initiatives such as Smart Specialisation Platforms, Digital Innovation Hubs, Knowledge and Innovation Communities and Key Enabling Technology Centres (KETs).