Nova Iskra announces EXCITE 2.0 – program for professional exchanges of entrepreneurs across Europe

If you are a young entrepreneur from Serbia working in the cultural and creative industries field, Nova Iskra is opening a new opportunity for professionals stays with companies from seven European countries, through Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs program. Pre-apply until June 8^th!

Nova Iskra is announcing its participation in the Excite 2.0 project, an international exchange program for study visits of young entrepreneurs across Europe. The exchange is realized via Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) program of the EU, and will offer a chance to 9 Serbian entrepreneurs to realize study visits and exchange of experience with companies and entrepreneurs from Sweden, Germany, Spain, Slovenia, Austria, The Netherlands or Slovakia, as well as 9 Serbian companies to host young entrepreneurs from those countries.

The focus of EXCITE 2.0 is specifically on the domain of cultural and creative industries (CCIs), with the aim to exchange knowledge and new ideas on entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as to provide access to markets across Europe, boosting international access and business development in the cultural and creative sector. Partners based in the mentioned countries provide bursaries for new entrepreneurs wanting to go to another European country in order to learn from an experienced entrepreneur based there.

The role of Nova Iskra is to provide a local contact point and guidance for the highly committed new entrepreneurs (individuals) and experienced host entrepreneurs (companies) particularly active in the creative and cultural industries filed – to find suitable match with counterpart entrepreneurs across the Europe together with its partners. The exchanges will be realized between now and January 2020.

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) is a cross-border exchange program which gives new or aspiring entrepreneurs (New Entrepreneurs – NE) the chance to learn from experienced entrepreneurs (Host Entrepreneurs – HE) running small businesses in other participating countries. The exchange of experience takes place during a stay with the experienced entrepreneur, which helps the new entrepreneur acquire the skills needed to run a small firm. The host benefits from fresh perspectives on his/her business and gets the opportunities to cooperate with foreign partners or learn about new markets. The new entrepreneurs’ stay is partially funded by the European Union.

All of the interested individuals from Serbia who are active in, or are planning entrepreneurial projects in the creative industries field can now apply with Nova Iskra, express their general interest for the program in 2018, and provide basic information via the online form https://bit.ly/2rG7X2e until June 8^th. The candidates whose profiles will pass the initial matchmaking process conducted by all of the partners, will then be assisted to submit their full applications via the EYE portal.

Since its launch in 2009, the mobility scheme has seen a constant increase in the number of entrepreneurs taking part in the program, leaving a positive impact on the European economy. Key findings showed that the program reinforces individuals’ entrepreneurial attitude and equips the candidates who participated in the program with entrepreneurial skills and competences invaluable for their future or newly established business.