Enhancing youth entrepreneurship with cross-border startups and digital technologies

Programme Priority: P1 Competitive economy

Programme Specific Objective: 1.2. More entrepreneunial youth

Sub-programme: Central Baltic

Duration: 01.01.2018 - 30.04.2021

Total budget: €1 397 046

ERDF: €1 099 996

Project Summary:

DigiYouth project aims to develop entrepreneurship and cross-border cooperation skills of Estonian, Finnish, Latvian and Swedish youngsters (aged 14–19) by supporting the creation of start-up type student companies focused on digital products, services and solutions. From each country 2 to5 schools, teacher teams and a network of mentors will be engaged. Student companies generate IDEAs and develop business plans and their product/service into a PROTOTYPEs. Finally they engage in marketing and SALES. by participating in national and regional hackathons, robotics, start-up, business idea and innovation competitions etc. they get inspired by existing regional competence.

A clear focus on digital technologies enables to devote more time to product development and raise awareness to the multitude of entrepreneurial opportunities and career choices related to digital technologies. Integration of project activities into everyday school work brings education closer to working life and the needs of the economy. It also saves students´ time, provides teachers with valuable teamwork experiences and ensures sustainability.

During the project, 40 cross-border student companies will be established to build connections for the future. 220 pupils from 4 Central Baltic countries will gain experience in international business communication and the startup world . 45 teachers and mentors will be trained to mentor cross-border student companies, a cross-border network of schools and partners (entrepreneurs, incubators, startup communities) will be created to facilitate and support the work of student companies, and a 3-semester study module on digital entrepreneurship for general education will be developed and tested.

View this project in

Lead Partner

Tartu Ülikool

Country: EE

www.ut.ee

Partner budget: 429.405 EUR

Amount of ERDF funding: 360.700 EUR ERDF

Project Partners

Turun Yliopisto

Country: FI

www.utu.fi

Partner budget: 460.977 EUR

Amount of ERDF funding: 341.123 EUR ERDF

Merikarvian Lukio

Country: FI

www.merikarvianlukio.fi

Partner budget: 28.552 EUR

Amount of ERDF funding: 21.129 EUR ERDF

Rauman Lyseon lukio

Country: FI

http://peda.net/rauma/rauman-lukio

Partner budget: 28.552 EUR

Amount of ERDF funding: 21.129 EUR ERDF

Ventspils pilsētas domes Izglītības pārvalde

Country: LV

http://vip.ventspils.lv

Partner budget: 232.412 EUR

Amount of ERDF funding: 195.226 EUR ERDF

Uppsala Universitet

Country: SE

http://www.campusgotland.uu.se/

Partner budget: 217.147 EUR

Amount of ERDF funding: 160.689 EUR ERDF

Expected results

The projects main result is the establishment of 40 cross-border students companies which is in line with the programme result indicator.

A student company is defined as a group of pupils from at least 2 project countries who go through a product/service development and business simulation process during 2–3 half-years (60–90 hours) using start-up methods.

Digital products are defined as anything with digital component, i.e. learning and gaming solutions; 3D, visual programming; robotics; low+high tech art and craft; mobile apps; hardware programming and IoT; communication solutions/platforms; digitally supported services

Other results:
• 220 pupils from Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Sweden will get international business communication and startup experience during the project
• 45 teachers and mentors from 4 countries will be trained to mentor the cross-border student companies
• cross-border network of schools and mentoring partners (entrepreneurs, university researchers, incubators) will be created to facilitate and support the work of student companies, aiming at sustainability
• study module on digital entrepreneurship will be developed and tested. The module implements problem- and project-based approach (learning by doing), integrates separate academic subjects, forms a part of regular curriculum and enables to develop pupils´ cross-border cooperation and entrepreneurial skills
• potential viable products/solutions created by students companies during the project will be referred to existing environments (Junior Achievement system, business incubators or high-tech accelerators sustained by local governments, universities and/or companies for further development
• outreach activities, dissemination and communication measures will be implemented (via attractive social media channels) to raise public awareness of the project results and benefits of linking education, entrepreneurship, digital economy and innovation, to ensure sustainability