FAQ
What is the Gabinete de Iniciativa Joven?
Formed by the Regional Council of Extremadura, it’s a way of encouraging a new means of development based on the capacity of imagination and creativity of those with an innovative and fresh, young attitude.
What are the aims of the Gabinete de Iniciativa Joven?
Something completely new: a Society of Imagination. Together with close attention and the initiation of many projects, we’re making a lot of effort to take a theoretical and practical approach to this new concept, establishing the Society of Imagination, whose end goal is to stimulate the capacity to dream, imagine, create and invent, together with information y knowledge, forming a powerful “mixture” that, if well applied, can be crucial in the cultural and economic development of the region.
What information is provided by the Gabinete de Iniciativa Joven?
The GIJ will answer any person who contacts us, and in the case of not providing a response (due to not having the current capacity to do so), the organisation can talk directly to the individual to discuss the question in hand. Information is provided for those users of GIJ who are in the process of putting together a project, but we never ask representative organisations such as Development Agents, the POE and others, to provide this information…We are committed to constructing innovative projects, and to offering the information we can provide, but it is always the individual who is responsible for obtaining the necessary information about aspects we had not thought of previously.
What type of projects does the GIJ support?
Any type of business, cultural or social project. With flexible duration and the ability to last. All must share a common factor, must be based in Extremadura and should be original, at least in the local area where it is based.
What does “commitment to youth” mean to a promoter aged 35 or above?
Commitment to youth means a commitment to the future. Any project or plan must have a positive effect on the young population of Extremadura and be put together with them in mind, as in the future, the town will belong to them, the young people of today. On the other hand, we understand “youth” to be an attitude to life rather than a chronological age.
Duration of the work of the GIJ.
At the Gabinete de Iniciativa Joven, we receive projects in varying stages of development, each with very different directors, and so it is difficult to set a fixed duration on a proposal in the GIJ. Much depends on the project manager. In any case, there are some schemes whose length is clearer, like the training scheme (Seminar on Imagination, Communication workshop, Project Ideas workshop) that lasts two months.
When might we say no to an idea?
At the GIJ we understand that all initiatives are capable of greater innovation (which could be developed through the GIJ), and that anybody can have a pioneering idea (and therefore can work with the GIJ). But it takes a lot of work to get from a good idea to the project itself. The GIJ provides a working environment in which innovative projects can be constructed. We might refuse an initiative when the organizer does not wish to work towards innovation, or, once invited to collaborate with the GIJ, the promoter will not actively contribute to his own project.
Why innovation in the regional area?
We understand that innovation at a district level has already been put into action by development groups, and that as an organization of the Extremadura Council acting at a regional level, the GIJ must continue at this level at least.
How is the degree of innovation measured?
In order to analyze the level of innovation of any given project, the GIJ has a Documentation Field that investigates this aspect of the project. We have Field Experts who, as already mentioned, are people with opposing professional trajectory, and whose function it is to assess the value of the innovation developed in the project, pointing out ways in which it could be put into practice and foreseeing future scenarios.
How do you know which projects already exist in Extremadura as no to repeat ideas?
When an idea is presented to the GIJ, we cannot very often tell straight away whether or not it is innovative. For this we depend on resources such as the Documentation field (examining this part of the project) or our Field Experts (those with an opposing professional trajectory whose function it is to assess the value of the innovation developed in the project, pointing out ways in which it could be put into practice and foreseeing future scenarios) which provide support in order to determine whether or not originality is present.
What is the Imagination Lab?
This is where the GIJ puts the concept into practice in such a way that it becomes truly innovative and its richness can be exploited. We advise all projects to pass through the Lab, but it is not obligatory. However, the director must realize that once they have reached a certain point in collaborating with the GIJ, the project will not be put into effect if it is not original, whether or not it has been approved in the Imagination Lab.
What does the Lab contribute?
It provides a working space to increase the degree of innovation in a Project. We look for creative and innovative alliance in the development of the plan to enrich the idea; it provides contact with others putting forward initiatives within the GIJ with the intention of creating a community of pioneers: therefore communication applied to innovation. In addition it offers the Elaboration of a memory- a document that has the same value as a written presentation.
Does the GIJ offer subsidiaries?
The GIJ does not offer direct economic help. We offer the promoters all the resources avaiable for him to choose as he wishes; information and evaluation in relation to the Presidential Decree 209/2005 of the Council, Meetings with the Capital, communication and interviews with Capital Risk Societies etc. At GIJ we encourage co-operation rather than subsidizing.
How do we measure the feasibility of an initiative?
In order to analyze the feasibility of an initiative we need to gather all possible information about it… For this reason the manager needs to put together a Plan of the Business. From this document we can find out relevent analysis ´to see whether or not the project is feasible (conveniently highlighted in the Plan of the Business).
Gabinete de Iniciativa Joven. Qbo. Palacio de Congresos y Exposiones de Mérida, Avda. del Río s/n, 06800, Mérida (Badajoz) España. Teléfono 902 511 902.W3C . También es accesible a través de un navegador de voz.
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