In mid-June, representatives of the University of South Bohemia took part in an international business trip to Plovdiv (Bulgaria) within the framework of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme of the KreativEU project. The main objective of the meeting was to define the rules and conditions for establishing a joint international incubator that will connect 11 partner universities and focus on supporting entrepreneurship in the fields of arts and cultural heritage.
During the discussions, the structure of the incubator as a shared platform of the universities was defined, along with a unified incubation process and the roles of individual institutions. The mentoring structure, the creation of an international network of mentors, and the involvement of external partners from the fields of culture, creative industries, and regional development were also addressed. An important part of the programme was dedicated to future incubation participants—their needs and the barriers they may face when entering entrepreneurship. Inspiration was also drawn from the presentation of the City of Plovdiv’s artistic residency program, which showcased concrete examples of supporting creative projects in practice.
The experience gained and the partnerships established have created a solid foundation for the implementation of the H&ART Incubator at the University of South Bohemia and its pilot launch within the KreativEU alliance.
Students and staff of the University of South Bohemia now have the opportunity to actively get involved in the incubator. Applications to the H&ART Incubator at USB can be submitted until the end of this month. The incubator supports the development of innovative projects at the intersection of art, health, and social innovation.
H&ART Incubator: Opportunities for Students
The H&ART Incubator of the KreativEU alliance is open to students at all levels of study—Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD—from all 11 partner universities. Students can get involved in two ways:
Student competitions for the best idea
Each year, competitions are organized for the best start-up or product idea in the field of cultural and creative industries. Participants receive mentoring in project development, attend workshops and lectures on entrepreneurship, and gain access to mobility opportunities within the alliance. Projects are evaluated by a professional jury composed of representatives of partner universities and external experts.
Incubation of your own project
Students with a concrete idea, project, or business plan can apply to become incubatees. The program lasts 9–12 months and is free of charge during the current pilot phase (2026–2028). It offers in particular:
- mentoring from experts from both practice and academia
- advisory services, coaching, and consultations in various fields
- access to facilities and equipment across partner universities throughout Europe
- international mobility and internships
- courses and micro-credentials via the KreativEU Career Centre
- networking with investors and key stakeholders
- opportunities for artistic residencies
- collaboration with researchers from partner institutions
Your work remains yours
All intellectual property rights to outputs created within the incubator remain with their creators. In the case of commercial use, authors receive 80% of the net revenue.
