The BSI_4Women project has successfully brought together public authorities and business support organisations to empower refugee women from Ukraine and other regions to start their own businesses and become active members of their communities.

Supported by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme, BSI_4Women has contributed to strengthening entrepreneurship and innovation among women affected by military conflicts, facilitating their economic integration across the Baltic Sea region.

Developed in response to the socio-economic disruptions caused by global conflicts, the project addressed the complex challenges faced by refugee women in accessing stable livelihoods. These challenges included cultural and language barriers, limited access to networks and capital, and difficulties in navigating unfamiliar market environments. Through its activities, BSI_4Women provided targeted support to help overcome these obstacles and foster long-term economic resilience.

Throughout the project, partners established a transnational network that enabled the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and resources across the Baltic Sea region. This network delivered tailored support to refugee women entrepreneurs, ensuring that assistance was adapted to their specific needs and circumstances.

BSI_4Women implemented a comprehensive support system covering the full entrepreneurial journey—from business ideation to market entry. Participants benefited from training programmes, mentoring, and incubation services, which helped them develop business ideas, refine their models, and successfully enter local markets. Collaboration with local stakeholders, including businesses and educational institutions, further strengthened the support ecosystem.

It is important to mention our main achievements and accomplishments in the frameworks of BSI_4Women project:

• the creation and establishment of the digital platform used for the recruitment, incubation process, workshops and individual consultations with experts;
• the creation of an innovative business incubation program;
• the preparation of such documents as methodology for preparing and implementing the incubation program aimed at entrepreneurial refugee/migrant women and tools for preparing co-creation workshops used in the incubation program, including a template for the workshop report and a sample agenda for the event;
• the launch of Transnational Investment Support Network for refugee women that provides mapping VC funds, investors, other investment organisations, public funding from various countries/regions to support start-ups and women refugees in the Baltic Sea Region and sharing info about important international start-up network events relevant to the target group.

Project activities, including surveys and consultations conducted in partner regions, confirmed the significant interest and potential among refugee women for entrepreneurship. These insights helped shape effective support measures and contributed to tangible outcomes, including increased entrepreneurial skills, improved confidence, and the creation of new business initiatives.

As a result, BSI_4Women has contributed to the economic empowerment of refugee women and strengthened their integration into local communities. The project has also enhanced regional cooperation and demonstrated the value of inclusive entrepreneurship as a driver of economic resilience.

Importantly, BSI_4Women has developed a scalable and transferable model that can be replicated in other regions facing similar challenges. Its results provide a strong foundation for future initiatives aimed at supporting refugee entrepreneurship and inclusive economic development.

The support from the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme was instrumental in achieving these results, enabling effective cross-border collaboration and the successful implementation of project activities. The outcomes of BSI_4Women will continue to inspire and inform future efforts to empower refugee women and promote sustainable, inclusive growth.