Celebrating the Success of the FANS Project: Empowering Expats for a Brighter Future!
Discover how international collaboration and tailored services are transforming the entrepreneurial journey for expats, with lasting impacts that go beyond the project’s conclusion.
After two years of collaboration and innovation, the FANS project (From Adaptation to New Skills and Self-employment) has successfully concluded its journey from March 1, 2023, to February 28, 2025. This ambitious initiative, co-funded by the European Union, aimed to create tailored services for migrants and expats, focusing on business development in our respective cities.
International Collaboration
In partnership with Poznan Science and Technology Park from Poland and Startup Leiria from Portugal, we shared knowledge, learned from each other’s strengths, and developed a service model designed to support expatriates in their entrepreneurial journey.
Project Highlights
The project unfolded in several key phases:
Initial Exploration: We began with visits to Ostrava, Poznan, and Leiria to understand each partner’s organizational strengths and local ecosystem.
Peer-Learning Sessions: These online sessions were pivotal in shaping our new service. At Ostrava Expat Centre, we focused on Strengthening Entrepreneurial Capacity and Mindset Among Expats. Expert Alexander Grit from Hanze University guided us on integrating expats and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.
Service Design and Piloting: In the final phase, each partner developed and piloted a service for expats. Ostrava Expat Centre launched FANS – Business Development, offering support through workshops covering everything from idea creation to marketing strategies. Eleven expats took part and, in some cases, established their businesses.
Looking Forward
The FANS project has been a game-changer, and we’re excited to keep building on its success. Thanks to international cooperation, we’ve not only helped expats thrive but also gained fresh insights that will fuel future collaborations, making it even easier for them to succeed and grow in their new environments.
The FANS project was co-founded by the European Union, which made this transformative project possible.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this exciting journey!