STARS EU Student Case Competition returns to France with an entrepreneurship challenge

Hosted by the University Marie and Louis Pasteur from 9 to 18 November, the second edition will take the form of a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) in Besançon

Following its first edition at Hanze University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands), the STARS EU Student Case Competition is returning from 9 to 18 November 2026, with the University Marie and Louis Pasteur (UMLP) welcoming students and academic staff from across the Alliance to Besançon, France.

This second edition will be organised as a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) format combining virtual and physical activities. The online component took place from 15 to 22 October, while the in-person programme in Besançon will give participants the opportunity to work together in multicultural teams on an entrepreneurial challenge. The programme awards 3 ECTS credits and is aimed at second- and third-year bachelor’s students, alongside academic staff from partner universities.

From an idea to an entrepreneurial project

Over ten days, participants will develop their ideas step by step. The programme will cover key stages of entrepreneurship, including ideation, value proposition, market research, business models, marketing strategy, visual identity and communication.

Alongside workshops and collaborative working sessions, participants will take part in conferences, coaching activities and opportunities to discover the local university environment. Intercultural activities will also be an important part of the experience, encouraging exchanges between students from different academic and cultural backgrounds.

The competition will reach its final stage on 18 November, when teams will present their projects to an international jury. Following the initial presentations, three teams will be selected to take part in the final round before the closing ceremony. 

Learning and innovation across the Alliance

The initiative is closely connected to the STARS EU Entrepreneurship and Innovation Thematic Interest Group (TIG), which brings together educators and researchers to promote collaborative learning, innovative teaching practices and entrepreneurial thinking across the partner universities.

By combining practical challenges, international teamwork and intercultural exchange, the Student Case Competition offers students and opportunity to develop skills that extend beyond the classroom, while strengthening connections across the STARS EU community.

The first edition, hosted by Hanze University of Applied Sciences in April 2026, brought together around 100 participants from the Alliance’s nine universities. The second edition continues this initiative in France, further developing opportunities for shared learning and collaboration.