Incubation program for Hungarian designer start-ups

August 22, 2014

22 August 2014, Hungary

The Consultation Program, which kicked off in May 2014, is a significant step forward in the financial and business development of the Hungarian design industry.

Design Terminal, a Hungarian state agency responsible for the stimulation of the creative industries, is playing a refreshing and diverse role by committing itself to changing the perception of design, fashion and architecture as businesses among the young and talented, and has started an open Consultation as well as a scholarship-based Mentoring Program.

State agency for design

Design Terminal was founded in January 2014 specifically with the aim of utilising the inherent possibilities of the sector as part of the growth strategy of the European Union and its new program, “Creative Europe’’.

The fields of activities – innovative technologies, industrial design, fashion industry and urban planning – are chosen according to 3 criteria:

  • to encourage the sectors in which Hungary has significant industry tradition and indisputable authenticity;
  • to possess demonstrable contemporary potential, i.e. a significant amount of new talent; and
  • to be effective in fields which can positively change the country’s perception.

The agency has already helped many local design entrepreneurs, such as IVANKA [http://ivanka.hu/] in finding the necessary connections, funds or publicity for their projects to take off, and organised many professional events and exhibitions, such as the Central European Fashion Designer Competition (“Gombold újra!”), the annual meeting of the Google Lunar XPRIZE and the Budapest 3D Printing Days.

Consultation and mentoring program

The monthly Consultation Program was launched in spring 2014, with the aim of giving practical high-level advice to local designers on how to handle the communication, brand management, finance, investment and legal decisions that they will face.

Following the Consultation, the participation in a Mentoring Program will be provided to those Hungarian small enterprises whose products can potentially conquer international markets. The purpose of the 3-6 month program is to help designers to create a strategy, conduct negotiations and market their work.

Originally published in DesignWrites 4th Edition.