The data of the Analysis of Barriers to the Development of Entrepreneurship in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the research developed by UNDP, showed that 21.4% of the respondents believe that the culture of entrepreneurship in Bosnia and Herzegovina is at an unsatisfactory level, and a total of additional 41.1% of responses also refer to the poor evaluation (grades 2 and 3). As many as 73.2% of surveyed entrepreneurs do not have the practice of holding meetings with ministries and government bodies, which, in fact, further ranks the business culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina as unsupportive at the level of respondents who participated in this research. 

When it comes to formal education, 41.1% of surveyed entrepreneurs think that it helped them in the development of their business, while 16% of them absolutely do not advocate this position (rated 1 and 2). A total of 39.3% of them went through education related to market research or writing business plans, so a significant part of them (60.7%) never attended a similar type of education, which is also expressed through their attitudes regarding the need for additional learning. The most attractive need is precisely the need to know how to write a project, business or marketing plan, which can be caused by the desire to apply for various grants.

Developing entrepreneurial skills through cultural activities 

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the development of entrepreneurial skills through culture takes place across formal education, non-formal/informal programs, and youth work initiatives that help young people transform creative ideas into viable projects.

Existing cultural legislation and strategic frameworks across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, and Brčko District currently lack provisions for the development of entrepreneurial skills through cultural initiatives. Formal schooling and higher education programs increasingly integrate elements of entrepreneurship, innovation and creative thinking into curricula. For example, student entrepreneurship competitions such as the BizVenture Championship engage students in simulation games and business plan development, allowing them to transform creative concepts into structured entrepreneurial proposals, learn about business challenges, and receive mentoring support from universities. 

Similarly, programs like the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (implemented by the United Nations Development Program in Bosnia and Herzegovina together with the Ministries of Education and local educational authorities) support high-school students in establishing entrepreneurship clubs, developing business ideas, working with mentors, and gaining practical business skills.  

Non-formal cultural programs also serve as incubators for entrepreneurial mindsets among youth. For example, Creative Elan, a pilot program implemented by the French Institute in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Impakt Investment Foundation, offers a systemic support model for young creatives seeking to turn ideas from visual arts, design and digital technologies into sustainable business models. Participants benefit from workshops, mentoring and practical business development training, culminating in public pitch events where ideas are assessed by expert juries.

Support young entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative sectors

Within Bosnia and Herzegovina, several formal institutions provide critical support for entrepreneurs. These include the various Chambers of Commerce, the Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, specialized entrepreneurship centers within both chambers and local government units, and various business associations. Due to the country’s administrative structure, these resources are distributed across the State, Entity (Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska), and Brčko District levels. For instance, the Chamber of Commerce system alone comprises 12 registered chambers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, six in Republika Srpska, and one in the Brčko District.

More concrete support for the development of entrepreneurship through the activity of chambers is best manifested through centers for entrepreneurship. When talking about the levels of local self-government, entrepreneurs have at their disposal various types of help during company registration through guides available on the local self-government website, where the Municipality of Center Sarajevo and its Entrepreneurship Service can be cited as an example. Professional associates of this service provide information regarding support, credit lines, and self-employment programs.

A good example of stimulating entrepreneurs is the one related to the programs of the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo. In this sense, initiatives were taken, such as the allocation of funds to support the establishment of start-ups and the grant awards started in October 2020. In addition, one of the programs included stimulating the purchase of business premises and equipment by financing interest through engagement with a selected commercial bank. Furthermore, at the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina level, the existence of the Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts is noted, which has different departments in its structure, such as the development department, the entrepreneurship department, the craft department, and the legal and financial department. One of the key legislative milestones in 2024 was the adoption of the Law on Entrepreneurial Infrastructure. This legislation aims to establish organized business zones, providing entrepreneurs with access to dedicated infrastructure and workspace at competitive, affordable rates. On the other hand, ministries of economy exist at the cantonal level, and each of them has its own competences, activities and work programs. 

The Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship, and Crafts of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FMRPO) supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with 13 million BAM in 2024 through the project "Strengthening the Competitiveness of SMEs."

For the 2024–2025 period, the Republika Srpska Ministry of Economy and Entrepreneurship has earmarked 15 million BAM in financial support. This package includes 10 million BAM dedicated to direct subsidies and 5 million BAM allocated for wage increase incentives to bolster the workforce.

For the 2024–2025 period, the Brčko District has allocated approximately a half million BAM toward self-employment initiatives in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, this support is supplemented by various capital investments funded through the district's general budget.

One of the more active associations is the Intera Technology Park, which aims to encourage individuals to develop entrepreneurial ideas, through help in the process of writing business plans, free use of workspace, and mentoring in the development of business ideas. A similar type of support is provided by the Startup Studio, which is available at three addresses: Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Bihać. This studio also offers information regarding access to various grants, and legal assistance in all stages of developing business. HUB387 warrants mention as a prominent innovation center. It focuses on providing shared coworking spaces and fostering a robust networking ecosystem for its members, particularly within the technology and creative sectors.

The Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina also has support for startups and woman businesses through the SEI HUB program, which is supported by CARE International and the Brčko District Government.

While there is no single national program exclusively dedicated to youth cultural entrepreneurship funded at the state level, young creative entrepreneurs in BiH benefit from European and regional funding frameworks that support creative enterprise and industry development.

In 2024, Bosnia and Herzegovina organizations secured EUR 3.63 million for cultural projects under the Creative Europe program. Managed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, this program provides funding, networking, and training to help young cultural entrepreneurs develop market-ready business plans.

Creative Economy Fund (WB-UK)initiative is implemented by the British Council and connects Bosnia and Herzegovina organizations with UK partners through grants aimed at boosting skills and economic growth within the creative sector.

YourJob (Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina) initiative is not exclusively tied to culture but still contributes to entrepreneurial skill development among creative youth. It has offered counselling, boot-camp style training, and small grants for youth business start-ups across diverse fields including design, photography and crafting, areas where cultural creativity intersects with entrepreneurship.