Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) has been awarded support under the EIT Higher Education
Initiative (EIT HEI) for its project titled “ELICIA – Empowering Leadership in Creative
Innovation and AI-driven Entrepreneurs.”
Reimagining Creativity through AI and Entrepreneurship
Funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) through EIT
RawMaterials, the ELICIA Project aims to strengthen leadership and innovation capacity in
the creative industries through AI-based entrepreneurship. The project focuses on creating an
environment where technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship intersect to drive sustainable
and human-centered innovation.
Within this framework, ELICIA will develop a joint curriculum that integrates Artificial
Intelligence, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship, enabling students, academics, and
professionals to acquire interdisciplinary skills for the digital economy. This curriculum will
serve as a foundation for new learning models that blend artistic thinking, technological
literacy, and entrepreneurial mindset. In addition, the project will organize ideathons and
hackathons that encourage participants to co-create innovative, AI-powered solutions to real-
world challenges in the creative industries. These events will foster collaboration among
students, researchers, and industry experts from across Europe.
Empowering the Creative Mind with Artificial Intelligence
ELICIA will also offer hands-on training programs and capacity-building workshops, allowing participants to gain practical experience in areas such as digital design, innovation management, and AI applications for creative sectors. To further support entrepreneurial growth, the project will establish startup incubation programs that provide mentorship, business development opportunities, and networking support for early-stage ventures. Finally, through an Innovation Investment Roadshow, ELICIA will connect promising startups with investors, accelerators, and innovation agencies across Europe—strengthening the bridge between academia, industry, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Through these initiatives, the ELICIA Project will contribute to building a sustainable and
innovation-driven creative economy, positioning Istanbul Kültür University and its European
partners at the forefront of AI and creativity integration in higher education.