THE CITIES OF VALENCIA AND POREČ-PARENZO JOIN THE EUROPEAN FU-TOURISM PROJECT CONSORTIUM.
The City Council of Valencia, city that holds this year’s title of Green Capital 2024 –supported by its innovation centre Las Naves- and the Croatian city of Poreč-Parenzo, a UNESCO World Heritage City (inscribed in 1997) have joined the consortium of the European project FU-TOURISM and will be part of the pilot projects of the program. The accession of these cities will help to advance this innovative project that supports European tourism SMEs in their transition towards a green, digital, and inclusive economy, with a focus on the application of the principles of the regenerative economy. Both cities will act as Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) and support tourism SMEs, with the support of EUPOLIS, which will integrate the Tourism Impact Model (TIM) and the Digital Readiness Index (DRI) to measure and report on the sustainable and digital transition of SMEs and destinations. Its membership will thus complete a partnership composed of partners from different parts of Europe: Finnova (Belgium), Envolve (Greece), SYNYO (Austria), Vestbee (Poland) and Open Impact (Italy) and led by Eupolis Grupa (Croatia) with CEDRA as an affiliated entity. The entry of the city of Valencia in this project, at the proposal of the Finnova Foundation, will bring great benefits given the enormous capacity of the City Council in entrepreneurship issues through the Las Naves Foundation and the commitment it has in sustainable tourism linked to biodiversity with the Albufera Natural Park and the Dehesa del Saler as examples. Valencia will help devise the innovation accelerator model for the future of tourism with two main axes: digital and sustainability. Valencia’s commitment to digital is evidenced by the numerous events organized by the city, with the Valencia Digital Summit as a global benchmark. Regarding sustainability in tourism, Valencia holds this year the title of European Green Capital of Tourism. The city of Valencia can become the urban laboratory of good practices of innovation in Tourism linked to the double transition (digital and circular economy, water efficiency in tourism, energy, and tourism, etc.) generating a model that can inspire to activate other Hubs of innovation in tourism in other territories. In addition, it will be able to share funding opportunities for this industry through European funds and guidelines for working with public-private partnerships. As for Poreč-Parenzo, Istria’s second largest city, its exceptional geographical position has made it a tourist powerhouse, with impressive cultural and historical monuments, immaculate scenery, cleanliness, a wide range of accommodation and a rich gastronomic and tourist scene, especially in sports and leisure, Poreč-Parenzo is a top destination for travelers exploring Croatia. Its local government is organized into seven administrative departments, responsible for overseeing various aspects, such as housing, urban planning, childcare, social services, health, education, culture, sports, nature conservation, civil protection, and traffic management. These departments actively contribute to the economic, cultural, and social progress of the local community. Poreč has about 16,607 inhabitants and an area of 113.7 km². In particular, it has been recognized for its excellent quality of life, winning the Best City Award for Quality of Life in Croatia in the category of medium-sized cities in 2018, 2019 and again in 2023. Transition of tourism SMEs towards eco-resilience Funded with €4 million by the SMP – former COSME- program and with a duration of 36 months (2023- 2026), the European project FU-TOURISM “Future-Ready Business Support Ecosystem for Tourism SME Transition to Green Resilience» aims to support European tourism SMEs in their transition to a green and inclusive economy, focusing on the application of the principles of the regenerative economy. FU-TOURISM also aims to develop a platform and a network of clusters, with local ecosystems that enable greater cooperation on innovation among tourism SMEs, as well as between SMEs and incubators and accelerators. To achieve this, the project will launch an acceleration program that will identify and support 102 tourism SMEs from six participating European countries: Spain, Greece, Croatia, Belgium, Belgium, Austria, and Poland through support services for sustainability, inclusive business models and direct financial assistance: The project involves seven European countries, six of which offer direct support services to SMEs. This initiative aims to find the most innovative startups that are working to promote the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, underlining the commitment of this Organization to promote innovation and sustainability in the tourism sector. This synergy will also allow a presentation on European funds for the sustainable tourism sector where companies and entrepreneurs can learn how to access more growth opportunities. The FU-TOURISM project, aligned with the objectives of the European Green Pact and the EU Digital Single Market, is presented as a unique opportunity to transform the tourism sector towards a greener, more resilient, and digitized model.
BRUSSELS WILL BECOME THE EPICENTER OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
This Tuesday 9 April, from 10:00 to 12:00 CEST, the Finnova Foundation, from Brussels, will present the online workshop Building Touristic Ecosystems in Belgium, the second workshop organized as part of the European FU-TOURISM project. The event aims to build a local ecosystem and explore the potential and challenges of the Belgian tourism sector, sharing best practices focused on sustainability and digitalization. Under the title «The importance of sustainability and digitalization in tourism», experts and stakeholders from the Belgian tourism sector will discuss the future of a sector in full rush to innovate, and the dual green and digital transition. They will share their projects and best practices in digitalization and/or sustainability in tourism, highlighting the potential and challenges they face. The presentations will be followed by a round table discussion that will enable all stakeholders to generate a dialogue on the challenges of sustainability and digitization in different tourism sectors. This workshop is part of the European FU-TOURISM project, which supports European tourism SMEs in their transition to a green, digital and inclusive economy, with a focus on applying the principles of the regenerative economy. Funded with 4 million euros from the SMP program (COSME’s predecessor program) and with a duration of 36 months (2023-2026), the European FU-TOURISM project is led by EUPOLIS Group and is composed by a partnership of eight entities from Croatia, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Austria, Poland, and Italy. «One of the objectives of the program is to enable accelerated SMEs to access European funds through programs such as Interreg, LIFE, Digital Europe and Horizon, enabling their project can benefit from additional funding up to 2 million euros through these programs,» explains Juan Manuel Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, a partner in the project, from Brussels. LIVING LABS FOR THE TRANSITION OF TOURISM SMES One of the main pillars of the FU-TOURISM project is the development of a platform and network of 4-Helix collaborative clusters, known as Living Labs for the transition of tourism SMEs. These clusters will enable SMEs to be placed at the heart of the tourism ecosystem, adopting a multi-actor approach that considers the broader needs of the destination, visitors and local citizens. «This objective of living labs is strategic, as it aims to generate local actions that can be replicated and have an impact at European and global level,» emphasizes Revuelta.
FU-TOURISM Project participates in Second Anniversary Celebration of the Tourism Transition Pathway in Europe
– On March 15, the European Commission organized a hybrid event to reflect on the past, present and future of the tourism ecosystem. – The Finnova Foundation, partner of the European project FU-TOURISM, attended the event where this project was presented. Last Friday, March 15th, Finnova Foundation was present at the event «2-year anniversary of the Transition Pathway for Tourism», organized by the Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs of the European Commission (DG GROW). The FU-TOURISM project, in which Finnova Foundation is a partner, was presented at the event. The event was the setting for unveiling some of the projects of the COSME Program for the competitiveness of enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which finances numerous initiatives that help small companies to access new markets. Among them was FU-TOURISM, which seeks to create a supportive environment for small and medium-sized tourism companies, encouraging greater collaboration in innovation between them and the sector’s incubators and accelerators. The Finnova Foundation attended the event with the aim of creating synergies, networking and exchanging ideas that serve to produce future developments within the ecosystem. The event, which celebrated two years of the Transition Pathway for Tourism, brought together stakeholders to reflect on the past, present and future of the tourism ecosystem. Attendees took stock of the progress made since the publication of this document, exchanged best practices and created networks to reflect on the future evolution of the tourism ecosystem. Ecosystem of support for tourism SMEs Funded by the COSME program with 4 million euros and with a duration of 36 months (2023-2026), the European project FU-TOURISM is led by EUPOLIS Group and integrated by a partnership of eight entities from Croatia, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Austria, Poland and Italy. FU-TOURISM will develop a support ecosystem for tourism SMEs, promoting greater cooperation in innovation between these companies and incubators and accelerators in the sector. To this end, it will launch an acceleration program that will identify and support a total of 102 tourism SMEs in the six European countries that are part of the project through support services for sustainability, digitalization, inclusive business models and direct financial assistance. During the acceleration program, 10 SMEs from each country will be selected in a transparent and open manner to receive a 5-month support and a grant of 20,000 euros each. In addition, the Scaling Up program will select 42 SME consortia (7 per-country) to receive a grant of 30,000 euros each and corresponding business support. Living Labs for the transition of SMEs in tourism One of the key pillars of the FU-TOURISM project is the development of a platform and network of collaborative 4-Helix Clusters, known as Tourism SME Transition Living Labs. These clusters will enable SMEs to be placed at the center of the tourism ecosystem, adopting a multi-stakeholder approach that takes into account the broader needs of the destination, visitors and local citizens. Transition Pathway for Tourism In February 2022, the European Commission published the Transition Pathway for Tourism, a strategy created jointly with stakeholders that sets out concrete actions for the coming years. Through an online call for commitments, tourism stakeholders are invited to contribute to this process, supporting the green and digital transition of the tourism ecosystem, ultimately increasing the resilience of the sector. 4 sets of commitments and pledges have been published since then, and the call remains open for a continuous expansion of the stakeholder community.
Thirty tourism startups to be accelerated by the European program CulturalDeTour
The CulturalDeTour Program Accelerator will assist a total of 30 small or early-stage cultural tourism businesses from Spain, Slovenia, and Greece. For 6 months, from January to June 2024, the program, will provide participants with the skills needed to thrive in the sustainable cultural tourism industry. A total of thirty emerging or small-sized cultural tourism companies will benefit from the CulturalDeTour Acceleration (CDTA) program, which will begin in January 2024. The selected companies will have the opportunity to strengthen skills critical to the growth and expansion of their businesses in the sector. Of the 71 entries received, a total of 30 companies from Spain, Slovenia and Greece will participate in this initiative. The companies bring diverse approaches and proposals within the field of cultural tourism. From initiatives focused on heritage preservation to innovative proposals in tourism experiences, these companies demonstrate an exceptional commitment to sustainability and innovation. CDTA is a Creative Europe program in the framework of the CulturalDeTour project, a 6-month initiative that will start in January 2024. The accelerator uses the Earth-Centered Design methodology to drive innovation, sustainability, and business creation in the tourism sector through a design-driven process. The program will provide participants with the skills necessary to thrive in the sustainable cultural tourism industry. New business models The program promises to equip participants with the skills needed to thrive in the sustainable cultural tourism industry, with an emphasis on new business models, digitalization, technology, and sustainability through the Earth-Centered Design Methodology. Participants will be able to benefit from a variety of resources to develop their businesses: four national workshops in the language of each participating country, two transnational workshops for cross-border understanding and collaboration, five hours of one-on-one mentoring on sustainability business modeling, access to industry experts for personalized guidance and advice, thematic courses and webinars from partner organizations, and networking to share best practices. Selected companies The Spanish companies that will participate in the CDTA program are: Guía En Lanzarote Baukunst Arquitectura y Patrimônio Virtual SLU Viu els Ports Integra-T Experience Visitas Virtuales S.L. Zwit Project Excapic Experiencias Culturales S.L. Sevilla con aluza EIDOSD DEL VIENTO Y RAICES SL PLAY AND GO EXPERIENCE PEPE SERRA MERCÉ BE CURIOUS SL Cluedux Soca Bio-Art, S.L. The Slovenian companies that will participate in the CDTA program are: Zavod Ad Pontem Hiša vina Andrejc Vakog d.o.o. Zavod Zeleni Žep – Green pocket Institute Bravina d.o.o. Domačija Škvor Somapro d.o.o. Vesela doživetja Tanja Vesel s.p. JFDI d.o.o. UI Turizem, Uršula Sreš s.p. Vesna Merc s.p. The Greek companies that will participate in the CDTA program are:FELEA GOODS LTD Culture Hunters Vedema Ecomuseum Zagori About Cultural DeTour Creative Europe’s CulturalDeTour project, aims to use design-driven innovation and sustainability integration to drive collaboration and entrepreneurship in the cultural tourism sector, and create a strong cross-sector and transnational innovation network to enhance economic resilience during the recovery phase of COVID-19. CulturalDeTour is the product of a unique collaboration between three heterogeneous but complementary partners from across the European Union: Envolve Entrepreneurship (Greece), Finnova (Spain) and Arctur (Slovenia).
Finnova Foundation talks about sustainable development, water management, tourism and European funds at the Sun & Blue Congress on innovation in blue tourism
The congress, held in Almeria from 15 to 17 November, is a pioneering space on the blue economy applied to tourism at European level. Finnova presented the European projects FU-TOURISM, LIFE COSTADAPTA, CulturalDeTour and LIFE ECODigestion 2.0, in which it is a partner. 17/11/2023, Brussels. Today, Friday 17 November, Juanma Revuelta, CEO of the Finnova Foundation, participated in the Sun & Blue Congress, an event held in Almeria focused on innovation in blue tourism. Sustainable development, water management, tourism and European funds were the main topics of his presentation at a congress that aims to position itself as a benchmark meeting at European level in the field of blue tourism, providing an opportunity to learn about successful initiatives in various destinations and with presentations by renowned experts related to tourism and marine conservation. Juanma Revuelta took part in the round table «Smart Blue Islands», a space in which the speakers discussed issues such as the perspective of islands as smart territories, the problem of insularity, the management of natural disasters and water management in those destinations most prone to suffer it and the use of European funds in island projects. The panel, moderated by Adolfo Borrero, senior advisor of Sun&Blue, also included Robert Tabone, representative of the Ministry of National Heritage, Arts and Local Government of Malta, Gustavo Ventura, secretary of tourism of the municipality of Ushuaia (Argentina), Carlos D. Gutiérrez, coordinator of the Fuerteventura Smart Island Project and Paola Plasencia, CEO of HECANSA. Revuelta took advantage of this space to highlight the Foundation’s commitment to sustainable development, water management, tourism and the promotion of the financing of European projects through European funds such as LIFE, INTERREG, HORIZON and ERASMUS +. The CEO of the Finnova Foundation explained Finnova’s role in projects related to these issues and also those that focus on island territories. He presented the FU-TOURISM project, which supports European tourism SMEs in their transition to a green, digital and inclusive economy. The Consell Insular de Menorca is one of the partners in this project, budgeted at €4 million and funded by the SMP-COSME programme. He also spoke about LIFE COSTAdapta, a project coordinated by the Energy Council of Gran Canaria whose objective focuses on the adaptation of the Gran Canarian coast to sea level rise by means of a Tidal pool-reef construction system. LIFE COSTAdapta is a 7-year project funded through the @LIFE Programme, with a budget of €3.4 million. Another of the projects he explained was CulturaldeTour, which aims to boost collaboration and entrepreneurship in the cultural tourism sector, and has a 6-month Acceleration Programme to help startups and SMEs to expand their business, explore new models and improve sustainability practices. This programme is funded by Creative Europe and has a budget of €200,000. Finally, Revuelta presented the success story of LIFE ECODigestion2.0, which focuses on the production of biogas from slurry, agri-food and organic waste from the HORECA sector. The project, led by Global Omnium, is funded by the LIFE programme and has a budget of €970,000. About Finnova Foundation Finnova is a Spanish-Belgian non-profit foundation working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship at EU level. Based in Brussels, it operates through collaborations and partnerships in all EU countries. Finnova’s expertise in leading European project communication and dissemination activities is combined with a strong proven track record in start-ups and business support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and ceremonial event selection and awarding.
Finnova participates in the FU-TOURISM project for the transformation of SMEs towards a green, digital and inclusive economy
Funded with €4 million by the European COSME program and with a duration of 36 months, FU-TOURISM seeks to establish a robust ecosystem that will provide a lasting impact on the tourism sector, promoting its resilience to future challenges and aligning with the objectives of the EU’s European Green Pact An acceleration program will identify and support a total of 102 tourism SMEs from the seven European countries that are part of the project: Croatia, Spain, Belgium, Greece, Austria, Poland and Italy. 13/11/2023 Brussels. Juanma Revuelta, CEO of Finnova Foundation, has participated in Split (Croatia), in the official launch (kick off meeting) of the European project FU-TOURISM. This project, funded by the European Commission through the COSME program (Program for the Competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises), aims to support the transition of European tourism SMEs towards a green, digital and inclusive economy. FU-TOURISM has a budget of 4 million euros, has a duration of 36 months (3 years) and involves eight partners from seven European countries. The project is coordinated by Eupolis (Croatia), and has as partners Dubrovnik City (Croatia), Consell Insular de Menorca (Spain), Finnova Foundation (Belgium), Envolve (Greece), SYNYO (Austria), Vestbee (Poland) and Open Impact (Italy). The circular economy and sustainable tourism are a priority for the Finnova Foundation, as explained by the CEO of the entity. «This project is a recognition of the public-private partnership methodology promoted by Finnova to achieve sustainability in the tourism sector,» said Revuelta. Finnova has extensive experience working on innovative solutions to achieve environmental sustainability in tourism. The Foundation has promoted projects such as LIFE ECOBUS, focused on the reuse of oils from the horeca sector for use in transport in Valencia (European Green Capital 2024), an initiative that, more than 20 years after its launch, is still ongoing. Finnova has also been part of other tourism projects such as the Interreg POCTEP NAPOCTEP (to convert the heritage of the French invasion period into a quality and sustainable tourism product that can create wealth and employment in areas of Castilla-Leon and central Portugal threatened by depopulation and aging), and currently participates in CulturalDeTour, to promote innovation, sustainability and business creation in the tourism sector through a design-driven process. FU-TOURISM is the second project belonging to the COSME program in which Finnova participates. It has recently been a partner in the CircularInnoBooster Fashion and Textile (F&T) project, a project aimed at transforming textile and fashion companies into sustainable, circular and regenerative enterprises. STARTUP EUROPE ACCELERATION PROGRAMME FU-TOURISM supports European tourism SMEs in their transition towards a green, digital and inclusive economy, with a focus on applying the principles of the regenerative economy. FU-TOURISM will develop a supportive ecosystem for tourism SMEs, promoting greater cooperation on innovation between these companies and incubators and accelerators in the sector. To this end, it will launch an acceleration program that will identify and support a total of 102 tourism SMEs from the six European countries that are part of the project through support services for sustainability, digitalization, inclusive business models and direct financial assistance. During the acceleration program, 10 SMEs from each country will be selected in a transparent and open manner to receive a 5-month support and a grant of €20,000. In addition, the Scaling Up program will select 42 SME consortia (7 per country) to receive a grant of 30,000 euros and corresponding business support. LIVING LABS FOR TOURISM SME TRANSITION In the context of the European Union, the COSME Program has proven to be an engine of development for businesses and SMEs in Europe. FU-TOURISM is part of the list of projects funded by COSME between 2021 and 2027, standing out as a joint effort to boost economic growth, job creation and foster business competitiveness on the continent. One of the key pillars of the FU-TOURISM project is the development of a platform and network of collaborative 4-Helix Clusters, known as Tourism SME Transition Living Labs. These clusters will enable SMEs to be placed at the center of the tourism ecosystem, adopting a multi-stakeholder approach that takes into account the broader needs of the destination, visitors and local citizens. UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM THE TOURISM SECTOR FU-TOURISM not only represents an opportunity for European tourism SMEs, but also for the unique UNESCO tourist destinations; the city of DUBROVNIK, UNESCO Heritage City (inscribed in 1979), and the island of MENORCA, Biosphere Reserve (inscribed in 1993); which will be part of the pilot projects of the program. These destinations will test the overall Destination Management Organizations (DMO) strategy and support for tourism SMEs, with the help of EUPOLIS, which will integrate the Tourism Impact Model (TIM) and the Digital Readiness Index (DRI) to measure and report on the sustainable and digital transition of SMEs and destinations. The FU-TOURISM project, aligned with the objectives of the European Green Pact and the EU Digital Single Market, is presented as a unique opportunity to transform the tourism sector towards a greener, more resilient and digitized model. PARTNERS: About EUPOLIS GROUP LTD. Eupolis Group is an innovation co-creation advisory, training, and development company. We promote wise, agile, integrated, collaborative design, investment, ecosystems, programs, projects, products and services that create value for people, economy and the planet. Our partners are businesses, public and civic organizations, innovators, experts, leaders and change makers passionate to explore disruptively innovative, regenerative, shared wealth business and governance models and value chains. About ENVOLVE Envolve Entrepreneurship is a business support organization that has been at the forefront of global entrepreneurial support since its establishment in 2012. The organization champions founders and ignites innovation through an open startup ecosystem founded on efficiency, transparency, and growth. Envolve acts as a talent and knowledge hub, offering cutting-edge upskilling, valuable resources, support for founders, and impactful services and programs to the global community. Nurturing the next generation of global disruptors, Envolve re-introduces its flagship program, Envolve Accelerator, building upon the proven track record of the former Envolve Awards, in Greece and in the USA. In Greece, the program has
CulturalDeTour extends the deadline to apply for its Acceleration Program until November 19, 2023
This extension is an opportunity for those entrepreneurs who have not yet been able to apply The program will help selected startups get off the ground, scale their business, explore new models and improve sustainability practices starting in January 2024 02/11/2023, Brussels. The CulturalDeTour project is extending the application deadline to be part of the CulturalDeTour Acceleration Program (CDTA), aimed at small or early-stage sustainable cultural tourism companies in Greece, Spain or Slovenia to scale and thrive in a constantly evolving market. The new deadline to participate in the program runs until Sunday, November 19, and interested parties can register through this link. Europa Creativa presents this Program in the framework of the CulturalDeTour project, a 6-month initiative that will start in January 2024. The objective is to provide an opportunity for sustainable cultural tourism businesses to gain valuable insights and develop essential skills to grow and expand their businesses through digitization, technology and sustainability using the Earth-Centered Design Methodology. The CDTA Program seeks to drive innovation, sustainability and business creation in the tourism sector through a design-driven process. To this end, it will select 30 innovative teams, SMEs and early-stage sustainable cultural tourism companies based in Greece, Spain and Slovenia, operating within the cultural tourism sector, to grow and learn, expand their business, explore new models and improve sustainability practices. Emphasizing new business models, the program will provide participants with the necessary competencies to thrive in the sustainable cultural tourism industry. Resources, guidance, networking Between January and June 2024, participants will be able to benefit from four national workshops in the language of each participating country, two transnational workshops for cross-border understanding and collaboration; five hours of one-on-one mentoring on sustainability business modeling, access to industry experts for customized guidance and advice, thematic courses and webinars from partner organizations, and networking opportunities to share best practices. During the 6-month duration of the CulturalDeTour Acceleration Program, those selected will have benefits such as: Four national workshops in the language of each participating country and two transnational workshops. Five hours of one-on-one mentoring on sustainable business models. Access to industry experts Thematic courses and webinars Networking to share best practices Who can apply? The CulturalDeTour Accelerator Program welcomes startups, SMEs or early stage companies based in Spain, Greece or Slovenia, operating within the cultural tourism sector. Program schedule and phases of support: The CulturalDeTour Accelerator Program offers an unprecedented opportunity for sustainable cultural tourism businesses to gain valuable knowledge, develop critical skills and form strategic partnerships. Together, let’s revolutionize the future of cultural tourism. Scope and Selection: September 2023 Application period: September 2023 – November 19, 2023 Selection of 30 companies Announcement to applicants: December 10, 2023 Launch of CDT Accelerator Program: January 2024 End of CDT Acceleration Program: June 2024 Link to the project call on the website: https://www.culturaldetour.eu/en/take-part/culturaldetour-accelerator/ About Cultural DeTour: Creative Europe’s CulturalDeTour project, aims to use design-driven innovation and sustainability integration to drive collaboration and entrepreneurship in the cultural tourism sector, and create a strong cross-sector and transnational innovation network to enhance economic resilience during the recovery phase of COVID-19. CulturalDeTour is the product of a unique collaboration between three heterogeneous but complementary partners from across the European Union – Envolve Entrepreneurship (Greece), Finnova (Spain) and Arctur (Slovenia). About Finnova: Finnova is the Spanish-Belgian foundation based in Brussels and Spain (headquartered in Valencia), working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship in the EU. Finnova’s experience in leading communication and dissemination activities of European projects is combined with a solid proven track record in business creation and entrepreneurship support programs, such as accelerators, incubators and events, as well as its commitment to training and employability of young people.
Discussion on Cultural Diplomacy at the European Parliament
October 26, 2023, Brussels. Under the theme «The current challenges and needs of European cultural cooperation and cultural diplomacy: where do we go from here?” on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, an exchange of ideas was held at the SPINELLI 5G305 Room of the European Parliament in Brussels. This event was organized by MEP Ibán García del Blanco and the Finnova Foundation. During the event, multiple representatives from the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education, as well as experts in the field of cultural management, gathered. A discussion moderated by Ibán García del Blanco, MEP from the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) The conversation was introduced by MEP García del Blanco, who emphasized the crucial role of culture, creativity, and artists in international relations, as well as in forming alliances and promoting peace agreements to prevent conflicts between countries. The MEP stressed that cultural diplomacy, with its capacity to have a global impact, should «include civil society and artists.» The reason is implicit: «creators can act as de facto ambassadors, underscoring the need to develop information, training, and mobility systems that influence the development of the sector in coordination with diplomatic entities,» he emphasized. European diplomacy: the role of culture in European foreign policy, the multiplicity of actors, projects and programmes of European cultural cooperation and diplomacy. In the first thematic panel, led by Salima Yenbou, MEP from the Committee on Culture and Education of the European Parliament, the conclusions of her most recent report were presented. Yenbou highlighted that culture plays a fundamental role in allowing us to understand and celebrate diversity «both within and outside our borders.» A comprehensive political approach to strengthen international presence involves protecting cultural heritage against illegal trafficking and promoting the international dimension of culture. According to her, this requires effective intercultural communication and the protection of the intrinsic value of culture. In this context, there is a need for a «transformation of international cooperation relations, especially in the case of Europe towards Africa, where culture can play a prominent role,» the Euro-MP affirmed. The MEP also emphasized the importance of adopting a «humanistic, humanitarian, and diplomatic» perspective on culture, promoting messages of peace, and ensuring freedom of artistic expression. Examples such as the recent European Parliament Film Awards demonstrate that this is not only an effective way to export European values but also to co-create and redefine them. In conclusion, she highlighted the need to distinguish between traditional diplomacy and cultural relations at the international level. She also mentioned the idea of a pilot training project in culture and cultural diplomacy to boost participation in this field. The UN 2030 Agenda: the power of culture in the face of contemporary challenges and sustainable artistic practices, youth, and examples of sustainable innovative actions in the field of creative and cultural industries, cultural cooperation, and cultural tourism Juanma Revuelta, Executive Director of Finnova Foundation, addressed the various opportunities for European funding available to promote cultural innovation projects. He emphasized European programs specialized in this area, such as Creative Europe and Horizon Europe, which are strengthening their collaborations with the United Nations to achieve shared goals in this area. Pablo Barrios Martínez, EU Project Officer of Finnova Foundation, highlighted the impact of culture in shaping more free, inclusive, and creative societies in line with European values. He also emphasized the role played by Finnova Foundation in promoting young talent and innovation. Moreover, he underscored the urgent need to increase investments in education and skills development to foster entrepreneurial spirit in this field. To conclude, Mark Raemaekers, Senior Advisor of The Diplomatic World, presented The Phoenix Village Project as an example of how current market trends can be integrated with citizens’ needs from a perspective of creative innovation. The next steps in the implementation of the EU Strategy for International Relations and its near future In the third and final thematic panel, Gaia Danese, Policy Officer in Cultural Diplomacy at the European External Action Service (EEAS), emphasized the importance of the European Union adding value and seeking parliamentary involvement. Addressing the issue of academic diplomacy, she suggested the implementation of strategic training for ambassadors in this field, considering security standards. Danese stressed the importance of freedom of expression, freedom of creation, and freedom of movement as universal values and rights shared globally. She also highlighted existing agreements with UNESCO and the need to effectively address propaganda. Where are we heading? Amidst a global crisis and the war in Ukraine, the European Commission, the European Parliament, and cultural entities continue to discuss the role of culture, creative industries, and cultural tourism in European international relations. Two key changes affect Europe: the need to reevaluate its cultural heritage in a context of decolonization of thought and the adaptation of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) to current values, in line with the fight against climate change. After more than 15 years of the «European Agenda for Culture in a Globalizing World,» it is essential to assess and reflect on its progress, status, and its contribution to sustainable development by 2030. The debate explored the current state of European cultural diplomacy, its roadmap, and how to use existing strategic resources to better coordinate the actions of public administrations abroad and avoid redundancy of functions. This exchange of ideas has provided insight into the challenges of European cultural diplomacy and cooperation and has laid the foundation for administrative, institutional, and diplomatic innovation. What will be the next steps in the joint path of European Institutions and Member States to advance the implementation of the New Agenda for Culture and international relations? Finnova Foundation continues to closely monitor institutional debates in this area and provides support to European cultural industries and the promotion of sustainable transition through projects like CulturalDeTour and initiatives like the international photography competition Art4Forest. We invite you to follow us to stay informed about our upcoming projects related to the promotion of cultural innovation. About Finnova Foundation Finnova is a foundation that works for the
Finnova Foundation presents some European projects to Talent Factory participants at the CSIC delegation in Brussels
Finnova Foundation has organised a meeting and training workshop for Talent Factory at the CSIC headquarters in Brussels The aim of the event was to bring the work of the European institutions closer to young people and to present European projects such as Res4City, CulturaldeTour and LIFE ECOdigestion 2.0. 20/10/2023, Brussels. On Thursday 19 October at 11:00 (CEST) a meeting was held at the offices of the delegation of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in Brussels, where Finnova presented three European projects to the young participants of the Talent Factory School Hackathon. In addition, the event was used to discuss opportunities for young people in the EU and working. Also, groups were organised with the participants of the initiative, where six municipal challenges related to the following topics were solved: waste collection, water saving, sustainable housing, more sustainable cities, and climate change. The introductory speech was given by Elena Domínguez Cañas, institutional coordinator and CSIC delegate in Brussels, who presented the CSIC’s mission and highlighted the value of young talent, as well as the need to develop skills that foster creativity. Pablo Barrios, head of cultural projects at Finnova, then took the floor. Barrios introduced the CulturaldeTour project, which focuses on using innovation to foster collaboration and entrepreneurship in the cultural tourism sector. The project has a budget of 200,000 euros and is led by three partners: Envolve Entrepreneurship (Greece), Finnova (Belgium) and Arctur (Slovenia). The next speaker was Patricia Tejada, head of vocational training, Erasmus+ and training and youth at Finnova, who explained the European project Res4City, whose main objective is to address the skills shortage in the EU in the renewable energy sector, accelerating the energy transition. Res4City has a budget of 2.5 million euros and brings together 17 partners from eight countries, including the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Tejada also talked about the EU transparency registration mechanism, a database of entities and organisations that seek to influence the formulation or implementation of European policies according to the interests of their constituencies. Finally, Ester Mbomio, from Finnova’s communication department, presented the LIFE ECOdigestion 2.0 project, a project funded by the European LIFE programme that, through its technology, generates renewable energy (biogas) in water treatment plant digesters by mixing putrescible organic waste. This project has a budget of more than 970,000 euros and is led by Global Omnium (Spain) in collaboration with the Finnova Foundation (Belgium) and Aguas do Centro Litoral (Portugal). Subsequently, working groups were organised in which the 24 young participants, together with the help of 6 company technicians and 6 trainers, developed their ideas through the design thinking methodology. The event concluded with catering by Mediterranea Food & Events, specialists in Spanish products. About the Finnova Foundation Finnova is a foundation working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship at EU level. Based in Brussels, it operates through collaborations and partnerships in all EU countries. Finnova’s expertise in leading European project communication and dissemination activities is combined with a strong proven track record in start-ups and business support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and ceremonial event selection and awarding. About Talent Factory Talent Factory is an initiative that seeks to encourage entrepreneurship in a pedagogical level, helping young people to understand and prepare for the future of work. They create talent detection programmes in the classroom and, in the last 8 years, they have already trained more than 15,000 young people in entrepreneurial skills. About CSIC The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is a State Agency for scientific research and technological development, with a special legal status, its own assets and treasury, functional and managerial autonomy, full legal capacity and of unlimited duration.
CulturalDeTour seeks 30 startups to develop cultural tourism in Greece, Slovenia and Spain
The program will help selected startups get off the ground, expand their business, explore new models, and improve sustainability practices starting in January 2024. The deadline for submission is October 31, 2023, through this link: https://bit.ly/CDTAapply Are you an entrepreneur in the cultural tourism sector? This is your chance to shine! The CulturalDeTour Acceleration Program is looking for 30 startups and SMEs based in Spain, Greece or Slovenia. Creative Europe presents this Program in the framework of the CulturalDeTour project, which aims to enable companies related to cultural tourism to gain valuable insights and develop essential skills to grow and expand their businesses through digitalization, technology and sustainability using the Earth-Centered Design Methodology, an approach that seeks to create products and experiences that are good for people and good for the planet. Innovative entrepreneurs, SMEs or early stage sustainable cultural tourism businesses can be selected by the Program to undergo intensive business development, explore new business models and improve sustainability practices between January and June 2024. Exclusive resources for the development of the companies in the Acceleration Program: During the 6-month duration of the CulturalDeTour Acceleration Program, those selected will have benefits such as: National and Transnational Workshops Specialized Individual Mentoring Access to Industry Experts Thematic Courses and Webinars Networking with the Best in the Industry Who can apply? The CulturalDeTour Accelerator Program welcomes startups, SMEs or early stage companies based in Spain, Greece or Slovenia, operating within the cultural tourism sector. Apply through this form: https://bit.ly/CDTAapply Program schedule and support phases: Outreach and selection: September 2023. Application period: September 2023 – October 31, 2023 Evaluation period: November 1, 2023 – November 30, 2023 Selection of 30 companies Announcement to applicants: December 10, 2023 Launch of CDT Accelerator Program: January 2024 End of CDT Accelerator Program: June 2024. About Cultural DeTour: Creative Europe’s Cultural DeTour project aims to use design-driven innovation and sustainability integration to drive collaboration and entrepreneurship in the cultural tourism sector, and create a strong cross-sector and transnational innovation network to enhance economic resilience during the recovery phase of COVID-19. CulturalDeTour is the product of a unique collaboration between three heterogeneous but complementary partners from across the European Union – Envolve Entrepreneurship (Greece), Finnova (Spain) and Arctur (Slovenia). About Finnova: Finnova is the Spanish-Belgian foundation based in Brussels and Spain (headquartered in Valencia), working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship in the EU. Finnova’s experience in leading communication and dissemination activities of European projects is combined with a solid proven track record in business creation and entrepreneurship support programs, such as accelerators, incubators and events, as well as its commitment to training and employability of young people.