Call for Applications: Innovation Projects Grants

The call for Innovation project grants of PSMs is open exclusively for the following: PSMs with a legal body established in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Goethe-Institut and the DW Akademie and participated in the in-house needs assessment. The issues and areas of action identified during the needs assessment phase, along with the demands of certain target audiences (minorities, gender, youth, socially vulnerable groups, etc.), may serve as the foundation for the Innovation project grants.

The Innovation. Media. Minds: EU Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans Programme objective is to assist Public Service Media (PSM) in enhancing organisational performance and internal governance while also enhancing the individual capacities of journalists, technical personnel, top and middle management, and staff members.

Objectives

• The grants scheme particularly seeks to:
  • improve PSMs’ internal governance and organisational performance;
  • elevate the level of quality and applicability of the content created;
  • increase audience participation and engagement;
  • support PSM editors and journalists in the Western Balkans in advancing their professional abilities and gaining insight, expertise and knowledge about contemporary EU journalism standards and practices.

Funding Information

• A total budget of EUR 420,000 will be distributed in two calls for proposals.
• The highest grant amount that can be awarded is EUR 60,000. In the first call, four (4) grants will be awarded.

Duration

• Applicants have the opportunity to apply for Innovation project grants, with project implementations lasting a maximum of twelve (12) months.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must comply with the following criteria:
  • Operate as a PSM with a legal entity (media outlet) established in one of the following IPA beneficiaries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia;
  • Have signed a MoU with the Goethe-Institut and DW Akademie;
  • Have participated in the in-house needs assessment.
• The IMM Programme welcomes cooperation between two or more Western Balkan PSMs in implementation of project activities suggested within this grant scheme. Applying in partnership with another media outlet/organization for the grant application purpose is not allowed.

Selection Criteria

• Within their project proposals, Western Balkan PSMs should demonstrate the following selection criteria:
  • Impact: The proposed project/project activities have a significant impact on the PSM’s operations, audience reach, or societal role.
  • Innovation: The project introduces new and innovative approaches to public service broadcasting.
  • Sustainability: The project is sustainable and has the potential to be replicated or scaled up.
  • Alignment with program objectives: The project is aligned with the specific objectives of the Programme.
  • Potential for cross-border collaboration: The project should have the potential to foster collaboration among PSMs from different regions.

For more information, visit Goethe-Institut.