European Innovation Agenda

The media sector is being disrupted both by the rise of platforms as well as the recent breakthrough of (generative) AI solutions. These provide opportunities, but also many challenges for a diverse media ecosystem in Europe. In this fast-evolving media landscape, adaptability is paramount. The document emphasises the need for agile funding mechanisms, support for startups and alignment of skills with industry needs. 

The Future Media Initiative advocates for support in several core strategic areas: data and AI, trust, new experiences and formats, and innovative business models. Although we are aware the EU Commission is providing some support in several of these areas, we feel the implementation of such actions is too fragmented and the funding mechanisms are inadequate.  

For this purpose, we established a continuous dialogue to develop a compelling and ambitious innovation agenda for media in Europe. Some key takeaways for this dialogue include:  

• Collaboration: Cross-border partnerships are vital for project scaling and establishing interoperable standards.
• Education and innovation: Industry-led innovation, supported by academia, is essential for sustainable democracies and vibrant media ecosystems.
• Support for startups and scale-ups: We advocate for mechanisms and investor collaborations to empower startups and scale-ups, retaining top talent in Europe.
• Innovation hubs: We promote the creation of innovation hubs to nurture talent and new content formats.

The Future Media Initiative is dedicated to these principles, and we invite you to act by joining us in strengthening the future of the European media and tech landscape.