The STARS EU Alliance's Thematic Interest Group (TIG) on Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a collective of educators and researchers committed to advancing the understanding and teaching of entrepreneurship and innovation. We bring together a diverse network of European universities united in the mission of creating sustainable futures through collaborative education and innovative research with the aim of generating a significant impact at the local and regional levels, which is aligned with the STARS EU vision of shared growth and international exchange.

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation TIG focuses on achieving three fundamental objectives:

Fostering collaboration: Establishing a network that supports the exchange of knowledge, methodologies and research through the partnership. By working together, it is possible to unlock new knowledge and innovations to benefit academics, students, and the community at large.  Enhance research and education: Develop relevant, high-quality research programs and initiatives in order to prepare students for the challenges of the future, while strengthening the knowledge base of academic staff.  Promote innovation: Encourage the creation and dissemination of innovative educational solutions and practices that drive the growth of the entrepreneurship ecosystem within the alliance regions. 

Key activities and initiatives

To achieve the strategic objectives, several activities focusing on collaboration, research and education are undertaken:  Joint research projects: Implementation of collaborative research projects that address emerging challenges and opportunities in entrepreneurship and innovation. The ICoNE (Innovation Through Connected Networks for Entrepreneurship) project, submitted to the Horizon Europe call, focuses on the connected innovation ecosystem in each region by establishing Regional Acceleration Programmes for Startups.  Educational initiatives: Development and delivery of innovative educational subjects and programs. Through the mapping of existing offerings and the identification of shared themes, joint degree programmes are designed that bring together academic and industrial knowledge, such as Erasmus Mundus initiatives and blended programmes.  Blended Programs: The scheduled initiatives include such innovative educational experiences as the Startup Simulation Game BIP, which is already being successfully carried out with partner institutions, as well as a new BIP focused on Sustainability and ESG to broaden students' entrepreneurial and social responsibility skills. These programs rotate hosting responsibilities among our partner universities to ensure wide participation and engagement.  Mobility of Researchers and Students: Facilitating the exchange of staff and students through Erasmus+ and other ongoing projects, we enrich the learning and teaching experiences, broaden perspectives, and foster cross-institutional partnerships.

Cross-TIG and External Collaboration

TIG Emprendimiento e InnovaciĂłn is actively exploring opportunities for cross-collaboration with other thematic groups within STARS EU. These partnerships include joint research, educational projects, and mobility activities, reinforcing our alliance's mission to enhance interdisciplinary connections. In addition, project results at external events are actively disseminated to ensure that the inputs made can be immediately extended beyond the alliance network. Get Involved with the TIG on Entrepreneurship and Innovation Our Thematic Interest Group is continually expanding, welcoming new ideas and members. By joining our initiatives, researchers, educators, and students gain access to a vibrant network that promotes knowledge-sharing, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative thinking.  Fostering Collaboration, Enhancing Education, and Driving Innovation The Thematic Interest Group (TIG) on Entrepreneurship and Innovation within the STARS EU Alliance is a dedicated collective of educators and researchers committed to advancing the understanding and teaching of entrepreneurship and innovation. We bring together a diverse network of European universities united in the mission to create sustainable futures through collaborative education and innovative research. Our goal is to generate meaningful impact on local and regional levels, aligned with STARS EU’s vision of shared growth and international exchange. 

Our Vision and Mission

The TIG on Entrepreneurship and Innovation is focused on achieving three core objectives: Foster Collaboration: Establishing a network that supports the exchange of knowledge, methodologies, and research across our alliance. By working together, we unlock new insights and innovations to benefit academics, students, and the wider community. Enhance Research and Education: Developing high-quality, relevant programs and research initiatives to prepare students for the challenges of the future, while also strengthening the knowledge base of academic staff. Promote Innovation: Encouraging the creation and dissemination of innovative educational solutions and practices that drive growth in the entrepreneurship ecosystem within our regions.

Key Activities and Initiatives

We undertake a range of activities to achieve our strategic goals, focusing on collaboration, research, and education:  Joint Research Projects: We initiate and carry out collaborative research projects that tackle emerging challenges and opportunities in entrepreneurship and innovation. For instance, we submit the ICoNE (Innovation Through Connected Networks for Entrepreneurship) project for Horizon Europe call, where we will focus on connection innovation ecosystem in each region by establishing Regional Acceleration Programmes for Startups.  Educational Initiatives: We are dedicated to developing and delivering innovative educational subjects and programmes. Through mapping existing offerings and identifying shared themes, we aim to design joint degree programs that bridge academic and industry knowledge, such as Erasmus Mundus initiatives and blended programs.  Blended Programs: Our initiatives include innovative educational experiences like the Startup Simulation Game BIP, which is already successfully running with partner institutions. Additionally, we are developing a new BIP focused on Sustainability and ESG to broaden students' entrepreneurial and social responsibility skills. These programs rotate hosting responsibilities among our partner universities to ensure wide participation and engagement.  Mobility of Researchers and Students: Facilitating the exchange of staff and students through Erasmus+ and other ongoing projects, we enrich the learning and teaching experiences, broaden perspectives, and foster cross-institutional partnerships. 

Cross-TIG and External Collaboration

Our TIG is actively exploring opportunities for cross-collaboration with other thematic groups within STARS EU. These partnerships include joint research, educational projects, and mobility activities, reinforcing our alliance's mission to enhance interdisciplinary connections. Additionally, we actively disseminate our projects’ results at external events, ensuring that our contributions extend beyond our immediate network. 

Get Involved with the TIG on Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Our Thematic Interest Group is continually expanding, welcoming new ideas and members. By joining our initiatives, researchers, educators, and students gain access to a vibrant network that promotes knowledge-sharing, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative thinking. 

Leader

Ĺ imek Dalibor(simek@opf.slu.cz)

Co-Leader

Diederich Bakker(d.j.o.p.bakker@pl.hanze.nl)