Innovation Unleashed: A Challenge for Creative Minds – Kosovo

The UNDP Creative Industries is an innovative three-year project designed to foster the development of the creative sectors, aiming for inclusive growth and sustainable development. Recognizing the significant role of Creative Industries (CIs) globally, this project seeks to tap into Kosovo’s unique advantages: a burgeoning talent pool of young creatives, competitive labour costs, favourable fiscal policies, a rich tradition in crats, and an established international reputation.

The call supports the private sector in developing innovative prototypes and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) through close collaboration with UBT College and UNDP experts in business development.

They welcome ideas from the following sub-sectors of the creative industries:

• Media and audio-visuals;
• Creative services (which include interior design, graphic design, fashion design, architecture, advertising, game design, and industrial design).

Program Structure

• The Innovation Unleashed: A Challenge for Creative Minds offers a comprehensive structure designed to guide participants from idea conception through prototyping and the development of MVPs. This structure emphasizes mentorship, academic collaboration, and hands-on learning, ensuring participants receive targeted support to turn their ideas into viable products.
• Business development mentoring and coaching: This component, delivered by UNDP, focuses on business model development, sustainability, and social impact. It includes group sessions, workshops, and 1:1 mentoring with industry experts.
• Prototype and MVP development mentoring and coaching: This part is facilitated by UBT College and involves a structured mentorship programme to guide participants through the prototyping process, refining their ideas, and developing MVPs.
• Online talks and networking sessions: These sessions are designed to provide participants with insights into industry trends, business development strategies, and funding opportunities. They are led by UNDP and industry experts, covering topics such as branding, storytelling, market analysis, and technology integration.

Benefits

• Selected proposals will receive mentoring, guidance, and support to transition from idea to prototype, and from prototype to MVP, as follows:
  • Prototype development up to 5,000 EUR award or outcome-based grant.
  • MVP development: up to 10,000 EUR outcome-based grant.

What they are looking for

• They invite applications from start-ups with innovative solutions in the creative industries. They’re looking for projects that demonstrate a strong potential for impact and scalability, whether through the introduction of novel technologies, unique business models, or creative approaches that contribute to the sustainable development. Ideal proposals will leverage collaboration between academia and the private sector, showing how this partnership can drive innovation and foster growth.

Eligibility Criteria

• Type: You are a start-up with a minimum of 3 months of business operations and your solutions target the sectors: media and audio-visuals, creative services (which include interior design, graphic design, fashion design, architecture, advertising, game design, and industrial design).
• Location: You are registered and intend to implement your project in Kosovo.
• Language: Proficiency in English.

For more information, visit UNDP Kosovo.