T1.6.2. JAP REPORT FOR CCIs RELATED SMEs and START-UPs

What is the Joint Acceleration Programme (JAP)?

The report “Joint Acceleration Programme for CCI-related SMEs and start-ups”  is one of the deliverables in the  CREATURES project. It aims to speed up the development of innovative business ideas into viable business projects for both start-ups and existing businesses in Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) across six countries in the Adrion Region (Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Croatia, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina).

What are the main aspects of the Joint Acceleration Programme (JAP)?

Expert involvement
A team of local experts, coaches, researchers and leading practitioners supported early-stage start-up entrepreneurs and established SMEs in growing their businesses.

Content
The integrated curriculum of the JAP was delivered through four modules, each with themes representing the courses within it:

  • Module 1: Introduction to the Culture and Creative Sector
  • Module 2: Business Development
  • Module 3: Personalised support
  • Module 4: Funding – Fundraising – Pitching

Approach

  • Bottom-up capacity building with peer-to-peer knowledge exchange all along the acceleration process
  • Innovative pioneers and leading practitioners gave  inspiration and provided transferrable practices
  • Peer-to-peer and one-on-one mentor sessions to coach participants through conceptual learning and provide feedback

Focus
A holistic approach to business innovation in CCIs  (strategy development and solving technical, organisational, financial or marketing problems)

What is the main added value of the Joint Acceleration Programme (JAP)?

  • JAP stimulated peer learning and provided inspiring examples of innovative business models in CCIs
  • JAP improved the innovation capacity of participating start-ups and established businesses in  CCIs across six countries in the Adrion Region (Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Croatia, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • JAP improved the marketing skills of participating start-ups and established businesses in  CCIs across six countries in the Adrion Region (Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Croatia, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina) and raised their self-confidence leading to innovative entrepreneurship in CCS
  • JAP  acted as an exchange and learning platform to openly discuss and pursue innovative ideas in CCIs.

Based on the lessons learnt from setting up and running the local version of JAP, some key lessons and recommendations  can be drawn:

  • Lesson 1: Know the context
  • Lesson 2:  Build Partnerships and Engage Stakeholders
  • Lesson 3:  Define Service Offerings
  • Lesson 4:  Be ready to adapt
  • Lesson 5:  Define objectives and Key Performance Indicators

 

Here below you can find the Executive summary in English and in all PPs languages: