Stories
Implementing European entrepreneurship through U!Innovate.
Entrepreneurship is becoming an increasingly important part of the role higher education institutions (HEI’s) play in society. It’s not only about educating students, but also about helping them transform ideas into new ventures that contribute to innovation and regional development. Through European collaboration, HEI’s can strengthen this role and connect their local ecosystems to a broader network of knowledge, partners and opportunities.
The U!Innovate project, funded by the EIT Higher Education Initiative, plays an essential role in this development. In the project’s new phase, the development of the U!Innovate hybrid interregional incubator is central. This process is coordinated by Koen Van Damme from HOGENT, with his colleague-researcher Cosmin Copot contributing as supporting expert. Within HOGENT, the project is driven by E-Lab, Centre for Entrepreneurship and innovation.
The technical development of the incubator platform is carried out in close collaboration with the Finnish U!REKA partner Metropolia, which hosts and develops the platform infrastructure.
From exploration to implementation
During the first phase of the project, the consortium focused on learning from existing practices. Partners explored how universities across Europe support entrepreneurship and startup development. Through surveys, interviews and workshops, the project gathered insights from universities and innovation ecosystems. Partners exchanged experiences on how they support student entrepreneurs, organise mentoring programmes and connect their universities with regional innovation networks. These insights were consolidated into a set of best practices that now form the foundation for the next stage of the project.
With the transition to the development of a hybrid interregional incubator that connects entrepreneurial talent, mentors and innovation ecosystems across the participating regions, the project now moves from analysis to implementation.
Hybrid model
The incubator combines two dimensions. On the one hand, it provides a digital platform where students and early-stage entrepreneurs can access mentoring, training opportunities and collaboration tools. On the other hand, the project strengthens collaboration with regional innovation ecosystems, including startups, companies, investors and innovation organisations.
This hybrid model allows student entrepreneurs to benefit from both local support structures and international collaboration opportunities. By connecting partners across Europe, the project creates a network where knowledge, experience and opportunities can circulate more easily.
A key ambition is to ensure that the incubator continues to grow beyond the duration of the project. The partners therefore aim to gradually embed the platform within the U!REKA European University Alliance, allowing it to become a sustainable support structure for entrepreneurship across the alliance and its regional ecosystems.