About project

ECoCNetwork project presentation

Network of business support institutions, green, digital and creative SMEs and young people for dynamic and innovative European Capitals of Culture

This document is addressed to the main stakeholders of the ECoCNetwork project, both the official project partners and in particular the invited partners who have been identified as target groups within the project and between whom important activities will take place. These are representatives of business support organizations, European Capitals of Culture and young people. The purpose of the document is to present the content of the project, the main activities related to ECoC2025 Nova Gorica-Gorizia and the process of project implementation. It can also serve as an information base for the ECoCNetwork project, which aims to share best practices of cooperation between different stakeholders (the target groups mentioned above) in order to involve a wide range of actors in the implementation of the program, to make it as efficient and inclusive as possible and to achieve greater visibility of the project and the ECoC implementation program.

The project is based on intensive collaboration between a Slovenian and an Italian institution, the Primorski tehnološki park (PTP) and the Slovensko deželno gospodarsko združenje (SDGZ- URES). All activities involve business support organizations, representatives of the European Capitals of Culture 2024–2027, and young people. Institutions of the Slovenian minority in Italy are also included in the activities, which represents an added value to the project.

As part of the project, the Slovenian and Italian partners will build a network of business support organizations, ECoC representatives and young participants. This will provide a number of opportunities to promote the ECoC 2025 Nova Gorica-Gorizia, learn from other ECoC and share best practices and develop recommendations that can be made available. An event (workshop/hackathon) will also be organized to bring together participants from the eight countries to tackle concrete challenges together. On this occasion, a round table will be organized with the participation of decision-makers, Business Support Organizations-BSOs, representatives of the ECoC and young people, where the results of the discussions and the hackathon will be presented to a wider audience. A brochure with recommendations for good cooperation between different institutions for a dynamic European Capital of Culture will be made available to new ECoCs and institutions interested in bringing together different institutions and young people.

Official partners of the project and support for ECoC2025 Nova Gorica-Gorizia

Primorski tehnološki park-PTP and Slovensko deželno gospodarsko združenje-SDGZ cooperate within the GO! 2025-SPF Small Project Fund, an instrument financed by the Italy-Slovenia Interreg program and managed by EGTC GO (European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation), whose main objective is to prepare the cross-border area for the European Capital of Culture Nova Gorica-Gorizia 2025. The SPF is intended for low-value projects for which companies, associations, municipalities and other potential partners in the cross-border area of Slovenia and Italy have applied, which have a short implementation period and where the partners are (only) from the border area. In this project, ECoCNetwork, Primorski tehnološki park is a lead partner and SDGZ from Italy is a project partner.

The ECoCNetwork project addresses the challenges related to the lack of cooperation between the various institutions in the border area, which will come together in the project to create synergies and thus gain knowledge, best practices of cooperation and integration of creative approaches in the sectors in order to achieve innovative and creative results. ECoC2025 is both an opportunity and a necessity to bring together partners from the border area and from other countries. The experience gained will be shared locally, cross-border and transnationally.

Both cross-border partners have as a core task the cooperation with the business community, educational institutions, decision makers, young people, non-governmental organizations and others. The project will exchange best practices and working methods and connect entrepreneurs across borders. Together they will prepare and implement the activities of the two work packages, both in the creation of the partner network, the workshops and the event. The project will also involve partners from other countries who have experience, but above all they will also learn and have the opportunity to get to know the cultural capitals of other countries. There will be an exchange of knowledge and experience between the partners, a joint growth and development that will benefit the cross-border area and its inhabitants as well as the subsequent ECoC regions.

Focus and main activities of the project

The ECoCNetwork project will contribute to greater cohesion and inclusion in the European Capitals of Culture by leveraging opportunities to work with business support organizations, green, digital and creative businesses and young people (Challenge: A more cohesive and inclusive ECoC). It will contribute to a better connection between economic actors, educational institutions and young people (Challenge: Weak connection between educational institutions, the labour market and young people) and raise awareness of the importance of innovation, culture and creativity (Challenge: Raising awareness of the cultural economy as an economic factor). It will use the best practices and ideas of the existing European Capitals of Culture to create a dynamic and future-oriented region by bringing together participants from 8 European countries, which will also have an impact on the exploitation of the tourist, gastronomic and other assets of the border area (challenge: increasing the attractiveness of the border area).

The ECoCNetwork will specifically address the importance of a comprehensive dialog with the business sector and contribute to a more innovative city with an entrepreneurial mindset. The activities of the project will increase the visibility of ECoC2025, which has a long-term ambition precisely because of the involvement of partners from other ECoCs.

The main idea of the ECoCNetwork project is to bring together different experiences and plans from different ECoCs 2024-2027 to learn from each other, meet and develop recommendations for future cities to be open and learn from the past.

1. After building the network in the first phase of the project, 3 online events will take place in the second phase:

At the 1st online meeting, participants will share experiences on how ECoCs could/should involve entrepreneurs in ECoCs and why. Here we would like to hear how previous cities with the ECoC title have worked with businesses of all kinds. So, which companies have you worked with and why?

In the 2nd online session, participants will share how ECoCs can/should involve youth in their activities and programs;

and in the 3rd session the conclusions will be discussed and a document with good practices of cooperation will be created. A list of good practices for the involvement of different institutions, especially the business community and young people, in the implementation of the ECoC programs, with a special focus on linking business actors with the creative sector.

The sessions will be led by an expert facilitator and the questions will be prepared in advance so that the sessions are focused and the practices are presented using same guidelines.

2. The good practice document will serve the institutions, ECoC offices, businesses and young people well in the years to come. As ECoC institutions will also be involved after the ECoC2025 event, this will ensure the long-term visibility of ECoC2025 and the activities related to this document.

3. In October 2025, participants will be invited to an event in Nova Gorica; a workshop or hekaton, a panel discussion with decision-makers and a press conference will be organized. The project will cover the travel and accommodation costs for 2-3 invited persons from the ECoCs cities 2024-2027.

The networking and hackathon will bring together participants from 8 countries to address the challenge of how to connect the economy with the creative sector and how best to involve young people in the activities of the ECOCs. The event will contribute to the diversity of the ECoC2025 program offer and participants will have the opportunity to get to know the border area and take their impressions and insights back to their respective capitals. A round table with different participants, including decision makers, will be organized as it is important to bring knowledge and experience to systemic documents and solutions. A media conference will disseminate information on ECoC2025, the event and the lessons learned in Slovenia and Italy as well as in the countries of the participants.

4. A set of recommendations will be developed to involve SMEs and young people in the ECoC activities in order to make them innovative and dynamic. The recommendations will be made available to all interested organizers of major events, especially future European Capitals of Culture, and can be further developed in the coming years.

Participants and target groups

The ECoCNetwork project aims to bring together European Capital of Culture institutions (business support organizations, ECoC partners from 2024 to 2027 and young participants) and raise awareness of the importance of combining different knowledge and skills to strive for innovation and creativity. We want to learn best practices and common ideas of the existing European Capitals of Culture to create a dynamic and future-oriented region by bringing together participants from 8 European countries, namely Bad Ischl in Austria, Tartu in Estonia, Bodø in Norway, Chemnitz in Germany, Nova Gorica in Slovenia, Oulu in Finland and Evora in Portugal (ECoC Matera Basilicata will also take part). The ECoCNetwork project specifically addresses the importance of a comprehensive dialog with the business sector and contributes to a more innovative city with an entrepreneurial mindset, as we believe that the opportunity to host the European Capital of Culture is much more than just cultural and creative promotion, but also cooperation with businesses.

Time frame of the project

As this is a very small project, the Gantt chart is also kept simple:

By September 2024, we will set up the partnership and prepare all further steps, including the questionnaire;
From October 2024 to March 2025, 3 online meetings will take place to share knowledge and best practices; here we would like to ask ECoC19-27 for your active participation to learn from you.
From April 2025 to September 2025, we will create documents and prepare the content and logistics for the following event;
In October 2025, you will be invited to an on-site event in Nova Gorica (up to 3 people) and the project will conclude with some recommendations that could be useful for future ECoCs.

The participation of ECoCNetwork partners is planned and welcome at point 2 (online meeting with knowledge exchange) and point 4 (participation in an on-site event in Nova Gorica, Slovenia).

Conclusion

The European Capital of Culture is not only a celebration of art, history and heritage, but also a platform for economic growth, social cohesion and innovation. In today’s interconnected world, businesses play a crucial role in shaping and supporting the cultural landscape of a city or region. Businesses have much to gain from actively participating in and supporting the European Capital of Culture initiative.

So we have a great opportunity to share best practice, learn from each other and give new impetus to future ECoCs that can benefit from the results of the ECoCNetwork project.