Creative Economies Forum 2026
How to prepare for the next decade? The Future of Creative Entrepreneurship
The Creative Economies Forum 2026 at Zurich University of the Arts brings together creative entrepreneurs, funders, researchers, and innovators from across Switzerland and beyond for a one-day exchange.
Drawing on 10 years of experience from the Z-Kubator in supporting entrepreneurial careers in the arts and design, the goal of the forum is to explore emerging capacities, new business models, and forward-looking strategies to design the next decade.
Connect with peers, expand your network, and contribute from your experience. Join the conversation and help shape “what’s next” for the creative economies.
Programme
Friday, 11 September 2026, 9am - 5pm, Toni Areal
Room: Hörsaal 1, free entry
09:00 - 09:30 | Arrival Coffee & Check-in
09:30 - 09:40 | Official Welcome | Room: Hörsaal 1
Prof. Christoph Weckerle, Director Zurich Centre for Creative Economies
09:40 - 09:50 | Programme Overview
Yves Burgener, Programme Manager Z-Kubator
09:50 - 10:00 | Creative Economies Data Update
Roman Page, Research Fellow, ZCCE
10:00 - 10:50 | Keynote #1: Re/Wire:
Why the Creative Industries and the Cultural Sector need to be linked with the Economy and Society
Dr. Stephan Sigrist, Founder and Head of W.I.R.E., Zurich
10:50 - 11:15 | Coffee break
11:15 - 12:00 | Keynote #2: MISSION POSSIBLE - Between Cultural Mandate and Market Success
Reta Guetg, Co-Director of Zurich Film Festival (ZFF)
12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch Break
13:00 - 13:30 | Keynote #3: The Curiosity Juncture:
Harnessing Intersecting Connections for Distinctive Creativity
Richie Manu, Programme Director, Creative Enterprise, Central Saint Martins, London
13:30 - 13:35 | Intro Z-Kubator Inputs
Philipp Kotsopoulos, Head of Z-Kubator
13:35 - 13:45 | The first 10 Years: Entrepreneurship, Careers and Innovation at the Intersection of Art, Design and Business 2016 - 2026
Claudio Bucher, Research Fellow, ZCCE & Z-Kubator
13:45 - 14:15 | Pitch Session & Panel
Participants of the Z-Kubator’s incubator programme "What’s next_Project" present their projects
Kymu by Stepan Vedunov & Elia Salerno
Touriski by Anja Fritschi & Tara Jenkins
Digital Organ Works Catalogue by Nina Roth
Reiz Jewelry by Anja Hügli
Staubsauger by Nathanael Boell
Host: Yves Burgener
14:15 - 14:25 | Reflections & Learnings from 10 Years of Z-Kubator
Itay Blaish, Designer & Curator, Z-Kubator
14:25 - 15:00 | Coffee Break
15:00 - 16:00 | Workshop Sessions | Room change
_Session #1: In-Depth Panel Session
Hosted by Dr. Stephan Sigrist, W.I.R.E., Zurich
_Session #2: MISSION POSSIBLE - Bridging Cultural Purpose and Entrepreneurship (ZFF)
Hosted by Reta Guetg, Zurich Film Festival (ZFF)
_Session #3: Exploring the Curiosity Bandwidth
Hosted by Richie Manu, Central Saint Martins, London
_Session #4: ZHdK Connect: Your Porject - Our Talents! Explore this new skill matching platform.
Hosted by Dr. Marc Burkhalter, Co-Founder of scrambl; Dr. Katrin Stowasser, Head of Transfer, ZCCE
16:00 - 16:10 | Room change | Hörsaal 1
16:10 - 16:30 | Wrap up and takeaways
Prof. Dr. Simon Grand, Permanent Research Fellow, ZCCE, and Associate Professor of Strategic Management and Management Innovation, Swiss Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, University of St. Gallen HSG
16.30 - 16.40 | Closing remarks
Prof. Christoph Weckerle, Director Zurich Centre for Creative Economies
16:40 - 19:00 | Apéro
During the entire day:
Discover the Z-Kubator Anniversary Report, read about our alumni’s experience and learnings, study data on the creative economies, test and explore the new Career Navigator and get refreshments.
Organisation: Philipp Kotsopoulos, Yves Burgener and Dr. Katrin Stowasser
Speaker
Dr. Stephan Sigrist (W.I.R.E., Zurich)
Dr. Stephan Sigrist (Dr. sc. ETH Zurich) is Founder & Head of W.I.R.E., an independent think tank connecting business, science, and society. An interdisciplinary strategist and widely sought-after keynote speaker, they analyse emerging trends and technologies and support decision-makers in developing future-oriented strategies—linking transformation across economy, culture, and society.
Talk at CEF26: Re/Wire — Why the Creative Industries and the Cultural Sector need to be linked with the Economy and Society
Reta Guetg, (ZFF)
Reta Guetg is the Festival Director and Co-Owner of the ZFF. In this role, she is responsible for all artistic matters, including the programme, industr, guests and public relations. Guetg has an academic background in film studies and communication; she is a co-founder of the international short film festival shnit and has many years’ experience as a board member of various industry associations in the film and cinema sectors. She has played a key role in shaping the ZFF over the past 10 years
Richie Manu (Central Saint Martins, London)
Richie Manu is Programme Director, Creative Enterprise at Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London)—working at the intersection of creative practice, entrepreneurship, and leadership development. A designer, brand developer, TEDx speaker, and author of the best-selling book YOU:Rebranded, they advise creatives, start-ups, and organisations on strategy, positioning, and growth.
Talk at CEF26: The Curiosity Juncture — Harnessing Intersecting Connections for Distinctive Creative Leadership
