Inkubator Sežana's finalist programme shows that hearing loss is no barrier for entrepreneurship

EBN’s mission to identify, celebrate, disseminate, and spotlight the most effective business support practices within the EU|BIC community will be on stage 13 June at the CIC Ouest’s, the venue for the EBN Congress 2024

Sign-language will be the national language of Slovenia in the EU|BIC Excellence Awards final. Inkubator Sežana’s Entrepreneurial School for People with Hearing Loss, Constantinus International Award gold laureate in 2023, will be among the 7 finalists to pitch on stage for the Most Impactful Programme title. Inkubator Sežana, a part of the EU|BIC family since 2006, shows no sign of stopping in the reinvention of incubation and the inclusion of people with disabilities in their ecosystem.

The European Business & Innovation Centre Network (EBN), celebrating its 40th anniversary, aims to highlight the best practices within the EU|BICs.

The Creative Start-up Program: Entrepreneurial School for People with Hearing Loss was established to enhance social inclusion for individuals with hearing loss by providing practical entrepreneurial skills. Facing communication barriers and limited opportunities, this vulnerable group requires specialised support to acquire entrepreneurial skills and to integrate into the labor market. This programme promotes lifelong learning, facilitates integration into the labor market, and fosters the development of entrepreneurial ideas.

Despite good organizational support from associations, they face limited employment opportunities and personal development due to poorer social integration and stigmatisation, which hinder their entry into the labor market and pursuit of entrepreneurial paths. This pioneering initiative, implemented by Inkubator Sežana in 2022 and 2023, is the first of its kind in Slovenia and Europe for individuals with varying degrees of hearing loss.

Goals included training 10 participants, integrating them into the labor market, and implementing a train-the-trainer program for members Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clubs Association of Slovenia, increasing social inclusion, encouraging self-employment, raising employer awareness, and reducing prejudice. The training included 12 hours of structured sessions and 10 hours of one-on-one mentoring, covering creative thinking, business models, market analysis, and lean approaches.

As the EBN Congress 2024 approaches, anticipation is building. This landmark event will unite key innovators and leaders in business support. The Creative Startup programme’s success story extends beyond Sežana, winning the gold medal at the 2023 Constantinus International Award.

The EBN’s mission of promoting global collaboration and knowledge exchange among the 7 finalists and the broader EU|BIC community will have an excellent role model with the Slovenian EU|BIC, whose track record of 21 beneficiaries over the last two years mean more than mere numbers, but lives changed for people with hearing loss. Inkubator Sežana continues to drive innovation and excellence for regional innovators and SMEs. Now, with its place in the EU|BIC Excellence Awards final, it will broaden their impact to the international stage.

Stay tuned for the next sneak peek of the 7 finalist programmes and join us in celebrating the spirit of innovation at the EBN Congress 2024!

More about the EU|BIC — More about the programme