New incubator in Flemingsberg to strengthen cultural and creative ideas with support from across Europe
This autumn, H&ART Incubator will launch at Södertörn University, a new initiative for people with ideas in the fields of art, cultural heritage, and the cultural and creative industries. The incubator is part of a European network spanning eleven universities in eleven countries, giving participants access to both local support and an international network of mentors, experts, and collaborators.
The initiative comes at a time when Flemingsberg’s creative ecosystem is growing. With initiatives such as Innovation Station, Press Start GameTech Hub, and the upcoming cultural venture Kultopia, opportunities are increasing for new connections between knowledge, innovation, and creativity.
Many people are familiar with the research and education available in Flemingsberg, but fewer may be aware of everything happening within the cultural and creative sectors. For Petra Norling, Collaboration Strategist at Södertörn University and Project Manager for H&ART Incubator in Flemingsberg, the initiative is a natural next step in the area’s development.
“H&ART can become another important piece of the puzzle that strengthens that ecosystem,” she says.
Part of a European collaboration
H&ART Incubator is part of the KreativEU university alliance, where eleven higher education institutions collaborate on education, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship with a focus on cultural heritage, creativity, digitalisation, and sustainable development.
One of the alliance’s initiatives is to establish a H&ART Incubator at each member institution.
“KreativEU encompasses everything from joint courses and research projects to creating opportunities for idea development and entrepreneurship. The incubator is a concrete way of putting those ambitions into practice,” says Petra Norling.
However, H&ART differs from many traditional business incubators.
“We do not work from a one-size-fits-all model. The programme is highly individual and is shaped around participants’ needs, ideas, and goals. We want to create opportunities for development, whether the aim is to build a company, find an audience, or develop a creative project.”
Ten participants with very different ideas
Interest in the first cohort has been strong. Out of 16 applicants, ten individuals or teams have been accepted into the programme.
The selected ideas range from historical video games and documentary filmmaking to fashion, dance, crafts, place development, and projects exploring virtual design and extended reality technologies.
“We have assembled a wonderfully diverse and exciting group. What makes it special is that the participants are not competing with one another, but complementing one another. The idea is for them to learn from each other, challenge each other’s perspectives, and discover new collaborations,” says Petra.
The programme is open to students, alumni, artists, cultural practitioners, entrepreneurs, and anyone else looking to develop an idea connected to the cultural and creative industries.
Mentors from across Europe
One of the incubator’s greatest strengths is its international dimension.
Each participant will have access to a local business or development coach, as well as the opportunity to be matched with a mentor from one of the eleven European incubators. Participants will also be able to take part in shared digital events and apply for residency opportunities at another H&ART incubator.
“The international perspective is perhaps our clearest strength. If you want to test your idea in an international environment or find collaborators in other countries, those opportunities are there. It opens doors that can otherwise be difficult to reach.”
In addition to coaching and mentorship, participants will be offered training sessions, networking events, pitching opportunities, and other activities at Innovation Station in Flemingsberg.
“We provide the framework and support, but the initiative is very much participant-driven. A great deal depends on how participants choose to make use of the opportunities available to them.”
Academia as a meeting place
For Södertörn University, the initiative is also about demonstrating a broader picture of what academia can be.
“In a way, the participants become ambassadors for the idea that academia is about more than research and education. Universities can also be places where new ideas are tested, where entrepreneurship grows, and where people meet across industry boundaries.”
Petra also sees significant opportunities to connect H&ART with other initiatives across the region, from cultural projects and festivals to collaborations between the public sector, businesses, and academia.
Aiming to become a hub for southern Stockholm
In the longer term, Petra hopes that H&ART will help strengthen the entire creative sector in southern Stockholm.
“My ambition is for H&ART to become a driving force within a larger meeting place for the cultural and creative industries. We want to join forces with cultural associations, organisations, municipalities, and other stakeholders to create more opportunities for people to meet, collaborate, and support each other’s development.”
In five years’ time, she hopes the initiative will be a natural and well-established part of the region’s innovation and cultural landscape.
“I hope H&ART will become a recognised part of Stockholm’s ecosystem of creative incubators. The goal is for the initiative to continue in the long term and keep creating new opportunities for people with ideas in art, culture, and creativity.”
Facts: H&ART Incubator
H&ART Incubator (Heritage & Art Incubator) supports the development of ideas, projects, and businesses within art, cultural heritage, and the cultural and creative industries through mentorship, training, networking, expert support, and international collaboration. The incubator at Södertörn University is part of the KreativEU – Knowledge & Creativity European University alliance and is supported by six associated partners: Huddinge Municipality, Botkyrka Municipality, Flemingsberg Science Foundation, Subtopia, Nationalmuseum, and The Swedish National Archives.
