Irish-language public-service broadcaster will contribute industry expertise, real-world challenges and a distinctive production environment to EIT Culture & Creativity’s growing European audiovisual ecosystem
Cologne, 1 September 2026 – Irish-language public-service broadcaster TG4 has joined EIT Culture & Creativity as a Cooperation Partner, bringing broadcaster expertise and real-world industry perspectives to Europe’s largest innovation network for the cultural and creative industries. Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, EIT Culture & Creativity works to drive innovation across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors.
The cooperation will connect TG4 with EIT Culture & Creativity’s European ecosystem of startups, researchers, educators, broadcasters and other industry partners, while creating opportunities to explore and test new approaches to some of the challenges facing public-service media and the wider audiovisual industry.
As broadcasters respond to rapid changes in technology, audience behaviour, production and distribution, their involvement in the innovation process can help bridge the gap between promising ideas and solutions that work in real production and operational environments.
TG4 brings a distinctive perspective to that process. As an Irish-language public-service broadcaster working closely with Ireland’s independent production community, it operates across cultural, editorial, accessibility and production contexts that can provide valuable environments for exploring how new technologies and approaches perform in practice.
Anette Schaefer, CEO at EIT Culture & Creativity, said: “We welcome TG4 and emphasise the importance of broadcasters participating directly in Europe’s innovation ecosystem. Their expertise helps ensure innovation reflects real industry needs and creates opportunities to test and adopt new solutions. TG4’s public-service and minority-language perspective brings valuable insight to this work.”
The cooperation will support TG4’s ambitions around innovation, sustainability and sectoral capacity, while enabling its experience and priorities to contribute to wider European discussions about the future of audiovisual media.
TG4’s participation will also bring a minority-language and public-service perspective into EIT Culture & Creativity’s audiovisual activities, helping ensure that innovation is developed and assessed across a diverse range of European media environments.
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Director of Innovation, Sustainability & Sectoral Capacity, said: “Joining EIT Culture & Creativity aligns directly with TG4’s new strategy and our focus on innovation, sustainability and building capacity across the sector. It gives us a valuable European platform to share expertise, test new ideas and turn innovation into practical solutions that benefit our audiences, our production partners and the wider sector.”
Ó Clochartaigh also serves as co-chair of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) People Committee, bringing experience of the skills, organisational and innovation priorities being addressed across European public-service media.
The cooperation is being announced in the run up to IBC2026 in Amsterdam, where EIT Culture & Creativity is bringing together European innovators and industry stakeholders from across the audiovisual sector. Visitors to IBC2026 can meet representatives from EIT Culture & Creativity and TG4 to learn more about the cooperation and opportunities for collaboration.
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About EIT Culture & Creativity
EIT Culture & Creativity is the institutional partnership dedicated to transforming Europe’s Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries to become more sustainable, resilient, and competitive. Established in 2023 by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an independent EU body, the organisation offers funding, knowledge, and tailored support.
As part of Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem, we connect research, industry, academia, and cultural institutions to drive systemic innovation. Our vision is to empower the CCSI as a vital force for economic, social, and environmental transformation. Our mission is to drive responsible growth through innovation, education, business creation, and societal impact.
Our initial strategic focus is on five sectors — architecture, gaming, fashion, cultural heritage, and audiovisual media — offering targeted support to innovators to scale ideas, translate innovation into impact, and redefine entrepreneurship for the creative economy.
EIT Culture & Creativity operates in over 30 countries, with its headquarters in Cologne and regional hubs in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Helsinki, Košice, and Vienna.
About TG4
TG4 is Ireland’s national Irish-language public-service broadcaster, delivering distinctive content across television, digital and social platforms worldwide. Based in the Conamara Gaeltacht, TG4 commissions across drama, documentary, entertainment, music, sport, news and children’s programming, while supporting the Irish language, creative talent and Ireland’s independent production sector.
Media Contact
Christy Drummond
Senior Communication Manager, EIT Culture & Creativity
[email protected] | +32 493 82 97 60
Áine Lally
Communications Manager, TG4
