FIREC- Foresight & Innovation for Resilient Entrepreneurs in CCSI

5 October - 16 November 2026

ONLINE

A fully asynchronous CPD course for creative professionals who want to lead the future, not chase it.

Welcome to the FIREC Course!

From 5 October to 16 November 2026, join a flexible, fully online learning experience designed for professionals in the Cultural and Creative Sectors — at no cost to you. This course brings together creatives, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across Europe to explore how foresight, innovation, and leadership can shape the future of cultural and creative industries.

Join us for free to gain new skills, create tangible outcomes, and lead the transformation of the cultural and creative landscape!

APPLY HERE

What does the course provide?

Engaging Challenges

Over 4 weeks, you will take part in challenge-based learning designed to ignite creativity and entrepreneurial thinking in the Cultural and Creative Sectors. Each challenge is carefully structured with clear learning outcomes, combining foresight, innovation, and leadership to create a cohesive, impactful learning journey.

Tailored Training Content

The programme delivers targeted training to equip you with the skills and tools needed to turn ideas into market-ready concepts. You will develop expertise in: Trend mapping and foresight, Business model creation and validation, Storytelling and stakeholder communication, Sales, leadership, and go-to-market strategies. Throughout the programme, you will receive continuous coaching, feedback, and access to expert resources to support your progress.

Real-World Learning Experience

From the start, you will work on a project of your own, applying tools and methods directly to your professional context. You will collaborate with peers, receive input from experienced trainers, and present your outcomes — a business model, pitch, and go-to-market plan — to an expert audience. Guest speakers and industry voices from the Cultural and Creative Sectors will further enrich your experience with real-world insights and case studies.

Who should join?

🎨 Mid-career creative professionals

🎨 Freelancers and SME founders

🎨 Cultural workers, educators, innovation managers

🎨 Anyone in CCSI aiming to level up entrepreneurial agility

No matter your role, FIREC helps you move from reactive work to proactive leadership.

Why to apply?

FIREC is a 4-week online journey for professionals in the Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCSI) who want to: anticipate change with foresight tools, build innovative business models, lead sustainable, future-proof ventures.

The course structure:

Module 1: Foresight, Trends & Creative Ideation: Learn to spot emerging trends, use foresight tools, and generate future-ready creative ideas.
Module 2: Validation, Business Models & Impact: Test your assumptions, map customer journeys, and create a viable, impactful business model.
Module 3: Storytelling, IP & Stakeholder Communication: Master creative storytelling to design a compelling pitch and build a strong stakeholder engagement plan.
Module 4: Sales, Leadership & Go-to-Market Strategy: Develop your go-to-market strategy, sharpen your leadership skills, and prepare for sustainable growth.

You’ll learn through challenge-based projects, expert podcasts, real-world case studies, and collaborative tools — and walk away with a business model, pitch, and go-to-market plan you can use immediately.

WHO WE ARE

FIREC is powered by a collaboration between the Centre of Business Excellence at the School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana which is ranked among the top 1% of business schools worldwide and Kimitisik, an innovation-driven organization rooted in the creative sector. Together, we unite academic excellence with creative innovation, building programmes that are both rigorous and forward-looking.

Center of Business Excellence

The Centre of Business Excellence (CBE) at the School of Business and Economics, University of Ljubljana, develops and delivers innovative training programs, workshops, and courses in entrepreneurship, management, HR, and leadership. Bridging academic expertise with practical business applications, CBE works with over 300 companies and 3,000 participants annually, while also running more than 30 student-focused programs engaging 800+ students each year.

KIMITISIK

Kimitisik is an innovation-driven organization rooted in the creative sector, with strong experience in scaling programs internationally. They have led creative leadership initiatives across countries, built Europe-wide networks, and successfully expanded pilots into pan-European programs.