Innovation Architects

23.02.2022

Students, master's and doctoral students in architecture and related specialties have an entrepreneurial development opportunity specifically designed for them. The "Architects of Innovation" business accelerator, launched in early 2022, offers those interested in starting on the entrepreneurial path both business know-how and support and non-reimbursable funding to start a business.

Implemented by fonduri-structurale.ro, the University of Architecture and Urbanism "Ion Mincu" and the Nod Makerspace Association, "Architects of Innovation" has opened the registration for the first important stage of the project: the entrepreneurial training courses.

More than 340 students are expected to enroll in the project, and as a result of the selection they will be able to participate in February-April 2022 in the free entrepreneurship course, delivered in online and nationally certified format.

The course is designed to familiarize young people with the entrepreneurial environment and to support them with both theoretical notions and practical applications under the guidance of the trainers to understand the main concepts of starting and running a business and to put their ideas into a business plan.

After the end of the courses, a business plan competition will be organized where 26 business plans will be selected and the students who have proposed them will benefit from mentoring, counselling and other additional support activities, as well as non-reimbursable start-up funding of up to €60,000.

The "Innovation Architects" project is open to applications from people who fulfill all of the following conditions:

are enrolled in a higher education institution (at least second year of undergraduate studies) in architecture or related specialties (e.g. interior architecture, product design, furniture and interior design);
want to set up a business in less developed regions of Romania (South Muntenia, South West Oltenia, West, Center, North-East, North-West, South-East);
have business ideas targeting economic sectors with competitive potential, with a focus on cultural-creative industries and professional activities (architecture, design, etc.);
have never attended a grant-funded "Entrepreneurial Skills" course.

For more details about the opportunities offered by "Architects of Innovation" and to apply, please visit https://www.fonduri-structurale.ro/arhitectii-inovarii

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The "Architects of Innovation" project (POCU/829/829/6/13/142130) is funded by the European Social Fund, through the Human Capital Operational Program under the "Innotech Student" funding line.

The project is implemented by fonduri-structurale.ro (Development Consultancy Group DCG) as Beneficiary together with the University of Architecture and Urbanism "Ion Mincu" and Nod Makerspace Association as partners.

Architects of Innovation has a duration of 24 months, being implemented in the period December 31, 2021 - December 30, 2023.

The total eligible value of the project is 9.686.360,68 lei, of which 9.582.301,99 lei is the non-reimbursable financial assistance and 104.058,69 lei is the eligible own contribution of the Beneficiary and Partners.