As we reach the end of an exciting journey, we are pleased to present the sixth and final newsletter of the Smart Step project. Over the past six months, the project has reached its completion, marking key milestones and celebrating the results achieved together with our partners in Europe and Africa. Let’s take a look back at what has been accomplished!

What has happened in the last 6 months?

Between months 31 and 36, Smart Step entered its final implementation phase, during which significant progress was achieved across several core activities.

One of the most important milestones was the final establishment of incubation centres in African VET schools. These centres were formally set up and fully equipped, providing students with a supportive environment to develop entrepreneurial ideas and take concrete steps towards self-employment. Through these spaces, the project strengthened entrepreneurial mindsets, supported the creation of sustainable business initiatives, and fostered connections between aspiring entrepreneurs and industry professionals, reinforcing market-oriented learning and mentoring.

To ensure the sustainability of Smart Step beyond its official duration, project partners collaboratively defined post-project action plans. These plans outline priority measures, governance structures and operational steps needed to maintain and further develop the incubation centres in the coming years.

Final Meeting and Event in Zaragoza

From 2 to 4 December, project partners from Europe and Africa gathered in Zaragoza for the final transnational meeting of Smart Step, hosted by Asociación Mundus. This meeting marked the formal closure of the project and provided an opportunity to review key results, share final action plans, and reflect on Smart Step’s long-term impact on entrepreneurship promotion and work-based learning across partner countries.

The programme included study visits to Zaragoza’s vibrant entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. Partners visited Etopia – Center for Art and Technology, a landmark for creativity and technological development, where they explored Zaragoza Activa, a public hub supporting social innovation and citizen entrepreneurship, as well as La Terminal, an incubator offering mentoring and collaborative learning opportunities for tech startups. The delegation also visited CIEM Zaragoza, managed by Grupo Init, which promotes open innovation and sustainable business development through collaboration between entrepreneurs, companies and researchers. These visits showcased how Zaragoza nurtures entrepreneurship through creativity, collaboration and community-driven approaches.

On the final day, the consortium reconvened at Etopia for a public round table on education and entrepreneurship. Representatives from the education and business sectors, together with stakeholders from Europe, Africa and the local ecosystem, discussed how educational pathways and entrepreneurial skills can be better aligned to create inclusive and innovative opportunities for young people.

Looking Ahead

While the Smart Step project officially comes to an end, its impact will continue through the partnerships, networks and entrepreneurial mindset developed throughout the project. The foundations laid during these years will support future initiatives, empower young entrepreneurs and contribute to sustainable development across partner countries.

↓ READ BELOW ↓