Collaborating with industry and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset are in the DNA of our universities. Our framework is unique and set up for promoting entrepreneurial endeavours and developing innovative technologies. Being embedded in deep-tech ecosystems across Europe provides our students and researchers with optimal conditions to address the whole European market – and beyond – with their solutions.
As an alliance, we also analyse, compare and bring forward policy suggestions on the framework conditions for commercialising capital-intensive technologies for the benefit of society.
We believe that by teaching our students an entrepreneurial mindset, they will be able to tackle obstacles and societal challenges with a solution-focused approach. Our students will be able not only to analyse challenges, but also to deliver specific solutions and act upon them.
Some of the activities carried out in the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Focus Area
Education
- European Venture Programme
The European Venture Programme offers 25 young start-ups exclusive access to the entrepreneurship expertise and networking resources available at the six EuroTech Universities. - Joint educational platform in economics and management of innovation and entrepreneurship
More than 20 professors work together to jointly design and teach doctoral courses such as “Economics of Innovation and Technological Change”.
Research
- SCALINGS project
Scaling up Co-Creation: Avenues and Limits for Integrating Society in Science and Innovation. Through a multi-sited, embedded, and comparative experimental research design, SCALINGS (2018-2021) studied the unique implementations and outcomes of three co-creation instruments: innovation procurement, living labs, and co-creation facilities.
Management of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- BETTER LITE
The EuroTech Universities’ tech transfer offices regularly exchange challenges and best practices on key topics, including IP portfolio and licenses management; entrepreneurship; IPR perception; market orientation; license deal structures and conditions; equity in start-up companies; conflict of interest policies; student innovation and university-industry collaboration. - Innovative Finance for Tech Transfer
An expert group has initiated multiple exchanges on innovative financial instruments for the development of commercialisation projects, including patents and proof of concept. Members of the group have provided expertise to the European Commission on commercialisation arrangements for universities.
Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Our way of enabling students and faculty with an entrepreneurial approach will help solve different Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
