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, 9m - 5pm, Toni Areal
Room Hörsaal 1, free entry
Arrival Coffee & Check-in
Creative Entrepreneurship @ZHdK
The first 10 years — Short Inputs
Presentation of the Z-Kubator Anniversary Report
Philipp Kotsopoulos, Head of Z-Kubator
Claudio Bucher, Research Fellow, ZCCE & Z-Kubator
Creative Economies Data Update
Roman Page, Research Fellow, ZCCE
Reflections & Learnings from 10 Years of Z-Kubator
Itay Blaish, Designer & Curator, Z-Kubator
Career Navigator
Dr. Katrin Stowaser, Head of Transfer, ZCCE
Room Change
Official Welcome
Prof. Christoph Weckerle, Director Zurich Centre for Creative Economies
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
Keynote #2:
NN
Lunch Break
Keynote #3: The Curiosity Juncture:
Harnessing Intersecting Connections for Distinctive Creative Leadership
Richie Manu, Programme Director, Creative Enterprise, Central Saint Martins, London
Pitch Session
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
Coffee Break
Workshop Sessions
Session #1: Hosted by Dr. Stephan Sigrist, Founder and Head of W.I.R.E., Zurich
Session #2: Hosted by Richie Manu, Programme Director, Creative Enterprise, Central Saint Martins, London
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
Closing, Drinks
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
