Students got to know the world of cultural entrepreneurship through the Cultural BEES project
The second innovation day of the European project Cultural BEES, an initiative aimed at empowering young people in the field of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) through entrepreneurship, was held with great success on Friday, November 21, 2025, at the offices of Junior Achievement Cyprus in Nicosia.
Students from High Schools in Cyprus had the opportunity to explore the richness of cultural heritage, get to know the new digital platform Cultural BEES and work in teams developing innovative business ideas with a cultural and creative character.
The participants created initial ideas, which they presented in front of an audience, highlighting their imagination, creativity and the importance of investing in youth as a vehicle for the renewal of the cultural economy.
The ideas presented by the schools highlighted the students’ strong interest in cultural heritage and modern technology. From the modern use of traditional motifs to applications to promote tradition and cultural events, students presented solutions that combine tradition and modern aesthetics. These proposals demonstrate that Cypriot youth can successfully link cultural heritage with modern business and technological thinking.
The conference was co-organized by:
- Junior Achievement Cyprus (JA Cyprus)
- InnoEUsphere
- Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO
This cooperation is a key pillar of the Cultural BEES project, which is coordinated by JA Europe and implemented by a consortium of 11 partners in 6 European countries. The program aims to equip young people with entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity skills, with a focus on cultural heritage as a driver of sustainable development.
Special thanks are expressed:
- to the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO, Innoeusphere and, as well as our beloved collaborators Maria Kouvarou and Maria Koumparou, who shared their stories and inspired the teams with their knowledge and guidance.
- to our beloved collaborator Ms. Thekla Papantoniou from the National Committee for UNESCO Cyprus and TRIO OSTINATO for kindly offering tickets for a chamber music concert to the students who participated in the conference!
In the coming period, two more workshops will be held in Nicosia in December and January, enabling even more young people to get to know the prospects of the creative economy and develop their own cultural business ideas.
For more information about the Cultural BEES project and upcoming actions, please contact Junior Achievement Cyprus at info@jacyprus.org .
The Cultural BEES project is funded by the European Union and promotes the connection of cultural heritage with entrepreneurship, strengthening the role of young people as tomorrow’s creators, innovators and guardians of culture.
