The SEED project was co-created using the design thinking methodology, involving technicians, entrepreneurs, teachers, and students, a strategic approach key to the project's success. By listening to students and teachers talk about their needs, the team was able to co-design a pilot project that developed entrepreneurial skills.

The SEED project focuses on six areas:

• Creating an entrepreneurship lab in schools.
• Organising study visits to entrepreneurial spaces and promoting workshops in schools.
• Conducting financial literacy sessions.
• Supporting the development of a project created by the students.
• Encouraging the development of skills and career path choices.
• Facilitating training experiences within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

These actions are carried out with partners in Lisbon's entrepreneurial ecosytem. They take place in schools and universities, incubators, coworking spaces and innovation hubs.   

After the first year, participants – students, teachers, and partners – reported a very positive and enriching impact. In the 2023-2024 school year, more than 1 240 students from 14 schools, in a total of 60 classes participated. The SEED team intends to grow its initiatives and inspire even more young people in the future.

The SEED project addresses socio-economic challenges by promoting youth employability and entrepreneurship, in line with the European Year of Youth 2022 and the European Year of Skills 2023. It supports young people using an integrated approach to skill development for job searches and business creation, thereby tackling youth unemployment, NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) youth, the brain drain, and school dropout rates.  

The goal is to ensure that talented young people develop to their full potential, by equipping them with the necessary skills to meet future labour market needs while creating conditions for their personal, social, and professional development.  

SEED also aligns with strategies and measures supporting youth employability and entrepreneurship, and for retaining and attracting talent, in the Lisbon area.  

The SEED project has embraced a participatory approach from the start, using design thinking methodology, benchmarking, and focus groups with students and teachers to align the project with their expectations. The design thinking process led to the SEED pilot, developed using the facilities of educational institute partners, who conducting activities with classes throughout the school year.  

The SEED team facilitated communication among students, teachers, and partners, and offered constant support in all activities and the daily management of issues arising. Monitoring surveys filled in by students and teachers after every activity, and school year-end evaluations with teachers and partners, inform an annual report.  

Consistently positive feedback indicates the project meets expectations. Suggestions are incorporated into the following year's version of the SEED project, ensuring that it is annually adjusted to meet the needs of students, teachers, and partners. 

The world is rapidly evolving, with advancements in technology, innovative ideas, and new ways of working. Schools are increasingly challenged to prepare their students for this ever-changing world. To support this effort, the SEED project has over its two years focused on helping young people develop the skills needed to become participative citizens.  

In its first year, SEED involved 5 schools, 23 classes, and a total of 541 students. They conducted 31 activities, at partners' facilities and in schools, that connected students directly with entrepreneurship and innovation.  

In the second year, the project expanded to include 14 schools, 60 classes, and a total of 1 242 students, with a total of 158 activities conducted, reflecting the growing interest and involvement of schools and students.  

The SEED project’s growth demonstrates its effectiveness in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation among young people, to prepare them to face future challenges with creativity and initiative. The project’s expansion not only increased the number of participants, but also diversified and deepened the activities offered, providing an enriching and transformative experience for students with positive impact. 

The SEED project addresses the need to prepare young people for the future, in the light of recognised digital and financial illiteracy and in line with the National Strategy for Citizenship Education. It reflects the Municipality’s goals to boost the economy and entrepreneurship, which culminated in the Lisbon European Capital of Innovation award.  

These national and local frameworks do not limit the transfer potential to other cities. The project can benefit any city, even cities lacking a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, by offering a model of collaboration between the business sector, innovative companies, and universities. These institutions can effectively bridge the gap between schools and the professional world, helping young people to develop new skills and think more like entrepreneurs. 

SEED highlights the role of cities as facilitators of innovation, in collaboration with local stakeholders. Any city that adheres to the same principles, and works in close cooperation with stakeholders, can develop a similar project adapted to local contexts.