The IN-CUBA (Incubators for CO-productive Enterprises and Social Inclusion) Project aims to foster social inclusion of people with intellectual disability through the development of an enterprise incubation methodology based on the principles of co-production. More precisely, the aims of IN-CUBA Project are to: - Develop a methodology based on co-production to incubate ideas, identify the necessary supports and sources of funding through which they can be transformed into enterprises; - Enable service users to be equal partners within the planning and development of a project, thus enhancing self-determination and autonomy; - Provide opportunities for self-development and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities so that they can be acknowledged as people that can contribute to the development of their community. - Testing the results in dedicated pilot actions aimed at the setting up of enterprises; - Evaluate the impacts of the entrepreneurial process on the quality of life of the users as well as the overall impacts of the project in terms of social inclusion ; - Disseminate project experience and outcomes, also with a view to enhancing social representation and promoting the adaptation of methodologies at local level; - Promote the development, testing, and implementation of innovative practices in the field of training for professionals - Promote activities that could better prepare professionals on equity, diversity and social inclusion in the training / learning environment. A committed collaboration between partners from different European countries is engaged in developing a programme of action over 36 months working to these aims and based on research, analysis and real time testing and in so doing to address diversity and promote shared values, equality, non-discrimination and social inclusion through innovative and integrated approaches. Previous experience of working with an approach of co-production has highlighted the capacity of service users to become active partners and protagonists, opening the doors to new possibilities and developments. In fact, the scientific literature and several success stories confirm that, with the appropriate support, people with intellectual disability can succeed in realising their ideas and aspirations through long-term projects, notably in those that lead to the creation of businesses. This opens up new opportunities for the development of people's employability and social inclusion. However, although there are national initiatives for the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation, these programmes are rarely accessible to people with intellectual disability and little effort is made to investigate the potential impact that entrepreneurship can generate for them and their social networks. The project, which is in the line with a series of well received actions, aims at further developing and make operational the co-production approach by bridging new realities, bringing together different methodologies that are conceptually close to each other but belong to different field. The development of the methodology will be accompanied by a testing in pilot actions in each Country involved, followed by a in deep impact evaluation.
The IN-CUBA project (Incubators for CO-productive Enterprises and Social Inclusion) started with the ambition of a very committed partnership to apply co-production to the elaboration of new tools for professionals of the social sector aimed at supporting the desire of people with intellectual disability to undertake a path towards professional independence. After three years and several hours of co-productive focus groups, it is possible to say that the results of this action are extremely positive and went beyond what was initially foreseen in the project description, witnessing a process of personal and professional growth for the persons involved, and in particular for beneficiaries and service providers. The Partnership benefitted from previous successful collaboration that made co-production part of its backbone. However, the development of the action wasn’t just about co-production, but also about sharing dreams and giving shape to ideas. Undertaking a project is a vital moment for people, and this is particularly true for people with intellectual disability. Therefore, being able to bridge the gap between dreams and ambitions, and concrete goals and reality, it is a major achievement both for professionals and for persons with intellectual disability. Three years, and several focus groups later, the partnership was able to achieve its objectives even in face of the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures adopted to contain the spread of the virus. The Project main objectives were met, as it is demonstrated by the completion of all the Intellectual Outputs foreseen in the initial proposal: - IO1 - users’ needs and requirements - IO2 - Report: levers and obstacles in the access to entrepreneurship for people with ID; - IO3 - Business incubator Toolkit: co-productive methodology - IO4 - Pilot Actions: testing of the methodology - IO5 – Evaluation and Impact Analysis IO8 – Publication: Outcomes and Achievements - IO6 - Video Tutorials: How to apply the methodology; - IO7 – Training guidelines: How to apply the methodology: - IO8 – Publication: Outcomes and Achievement. Due to the particular moment and the public involved in the action, it can be said that the achievements exceeded the initial expectations. The core of the project is the methodology for incubation developed in IO3 and tested in the pilot action foreseen in IO4. However, between Y2and Y3 the pandemic hit Europe and several of partners front services had to close for confinement. This had a major impact on the project, particularly compromising the implementation and finalisation of the pilot action. Here the partnership showed an incredible strength and decided to move on exploring and discovering alternative ways to proceed with the planned activities, and agreeing to work online when physical meetings were not possible. This was particularly challenging as there was there was no previous experience in organising online activities with people with intellectual disability. However, thanks to the experience already developed by OpenGroup and shared with all the partnership in a dedicated webinar, all partners were able to organise effective online co-productive focus groups. This allowed the partnership to develop a set of guidelines for effective online co-productive focus groups, which wan be considered one extra achievement of the project that will be for sure used in the future. During the IN-CUBA journey it was made clear that entrepreneurship can be considered a gateway to the labour market for people with intellectual disability. However, there are barriers to break. Even if it does not seem an obstacle per se, legislation is not always clear and it does not directly favour entrepreneurship for people with intellectual disability. It is often the prejudice and the lack of confidence that block any initiative. The IN-CUBA Project was appropriately directed in trying to fill the gap between intellectual disability and entrepreneurship and maybe develop the necessary impetus to begin breaking certain barriers. The project lasted 36 months and faced major difficulties due to the pandemic and lockdowns. Adopting new ways of working in a short period of time is difficult for everybody, particularly if moving towards a new environment (online), and this is even more so for people with intellectual disability. However, the IN-CUBA partnership was able to overcome some important barriers and was able to organise effective online co-productive focus groups. This proved and incredible mutual trust in collective and collaborative work, and co-production proved to be the key to make this collective exercise effective. It is therefore possible to say that the results of this action are extremely positive and went beyond what was initially foreseen in the project description, witnessing a process of personal and professional growth for the persons involved, and in particular for beneficiaries and service providers.