To download the guidelines click here.

To download the annex to the guidelines click here.

To download the application form click here.

To download the budget form in Excel click here.

To download the explanatory notes for the financial information click here.

This scheme is aimed at independent European companies wishing to develop online and off-line interactive projects intended for European and international markets, including projects developed for computers, consoles, handheld consoles and mobile handsets. 

Eligible companies
 
Applications are accepted from European companies which have as their main activity audiovisual production and/or the production of interactive works.  (or equivalent). 

The companies must demonstrate a track record of having produced as majority producer an eligible interactive work or an animation of no less than 24 minutes.  They also have to prove that this project has been commercially distributed during the period between 1 January 2006 and the application submission date.

The applicant company must hold the majority of the rights in the project(s) they are applying for. 

 
Eligible Projects

• interactive works for computer, internet, mobile phone, games console including handheld mobile devices presenting interactivity, scenario (narrative structure) and innovation;
• new format concepts for digital television, the internet or mobile handsets where interactivity and narrative elements are significant.

In all cases the projects must be intended for commercial exploitation. All projects must demonstrate high quality, originality and innovation of both concept and the techniques used.  They must also show potential for European exploitation.  

Ineligible projects:

• reference works (encyclopaedias, atlases, catalogues, databases);
• "how-to" works (education programmes, manuals);
• tools and software services;
• information services or purely transactional;
• information programs and magazines;
• projects promoting tourism;
• multimedia art projects;
• projects promoting, directly or indirectly, messages that are at odds with the policies of the European Union. For example, projects that may be contrary to the interests of public health (alcohol, tobacco, drugs), respect for human rights, people's security, freedom of expression, etc. 
• projects promoting violence and/or racism and/or with a pornographic content;
  works of a promotional nature;
• institutional productions to promote a specific organisation or its activities.
   

Amount of support
 
Up to 50% of the development budget submitted with the application.  Matching funds (in cash) are the responsibility of the applicant.
 
The minimum grant is €10,000, the maximum €60,000, except for the development of prototypes for games consoles, handheld consoles and computers for which the maximum grant is €100,000.

One company can submit up to two applications for two different projects under one Call for Proposals.  There is no Slate Funding for interactive works.

Eligible costs:

• writing and storyboarding;
• creation of programme content;
• definition of the initial visual concepts (personalities, backgrounds…) and sounds;
• realisation of a demo or the realisation of a playable prototype game for a console and computer before the signing of any production contract with a publisher
• archive research;
• acquisition of rights;
• preparation of a business plan and a financing plan;
• preparation of the provisional production budget;
• search for and identification of industry partners, financiers and co-producers;
• preparation of the production schedule up to delivery;
• initial marketing and sales plans (target markets and buyers, foreseen releases, presentation at festivals and markets, etc.

Period of eligibility of costs:
 
* Costs related to acquisition of rights - 12 months prior to the date of the application
* All other costs - from the date of submission of the application
* All costs eligibility ends 24 months after the signature of the agreement with the Commission or on the date of entry to production whichever is the earlier. 
 
If the company doesn't have the required track record: 
 
If the company is not eligible for funding because of the lack of the company's track record, then the individual track record of professionals who are part of the company can be used even if they produced the previous interactive work for other companies or worked on a freelance basis.  In this case the individual must have a personal credit on a previous project in the role of producer, author, director/project leader, head of computer graphics or head of interactive programming.