際際滷

際際滷Share a Scribd company logo

Innovation and academia a european perspective - at SRII Indian Summit

Download as PPTX, PDF
Christos Nikolaou
Christos Nikolaou

European Universities are already engaged in a variety of ways in nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship. It has not been easy, in many cases and several countries, given some deeply entrenched cultural biases. We will briefly discuss a snapshot of the situation across Europe, and focus on some major initiatives, already underway, to further empower students, researchers and academics to pursue innovation and entrepreneurship.

1 of 8
Download to read offline
Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the University - a European Perspective Prof. Dr. Christos N. Nikolaou Transformation Services Lab Computer Science Department University of Crete Prof. Dr. Vali Lalioti Director, Vali Lalioti Ltd. Professor in Leadership & Innovation Antwerp Management School
Historically no culture of entrepreneurship in many European countries (but not all!) Tim Berners-Lee, a European, invented the web while working at CERN(Switzerland) but commercial exploitation in USA! Young people were encouraged to study to become employees of large corporations or the government. European innovation policy in the past has been dominated by a focus on research and development (R&D), and an assumption that innovation is about science and technology (Lisbon Council). But this is changing 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 2
The effects of crisis in Europe The problems with the banks (Ireland, Spain, ) The problems with the debt-ridden governments of southern Europe, The tough austerity policies and the lack of/anaemic growth in the Eurozone, are pushing governments and people towards empowerment of the human potential, risk taking and innovation, as alternatives to growth. 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 3
A flurry of initiatives across Europe Government-led: Horizon 2020: emphasis on innovation, on SME participation, on cooperation between SMEs and universities/research centers Member states: Long tradition in UK (e.g. business parks at Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Southampton, etc.) Spain: Innova (Barcelona Tech), Espai Empren, Lean Startup Creation, German L辰nder Greece: National competition for innovation prices (funded by banks), entrepreneurship courses in some universities (e.g. U. of Crete) Privately-led: Banks (usually) create investment funds, with some public funding and some VC funding. VCs presence not as strong as in the US; VCs very weak after financial crisis. Co-working, Incubators and accelerators, Maker spaces: taking advantage of 3D printing and open innovation, e.g. http://www.greatrecovery.org.uk/ 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 4
The University Link Innovation and risk taking are naturally linked to young people (or to people with a young, inquisitive, adventurous mind), Universities have large communities of young people, Therefore, Universities should be natural incubators of innovation and entrepreneurship, And this is already happening in many places around the world USA, UK, 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 5
What is being done today Universities, across Europe, usually provide introductory entrepreneurship courses (make your own business plan, etc.), or more advanced ones in Business Schools, Universities host national or regional competitions with awards for innovating ideas in business, Universities create centers for entrepreneurs support (technological, legal, etc., e.g., see program Innova at UPC, Barcelona). However, contact of students and young researchers with VCs and/or successful entrepreneurs tends to be sporadic and educational efforts tend to be fragmented and not interdisciplinary (e.g. only in business schools). Some Universities offer advanced/innovative curricula (see UK example) 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 6
The Team Academy Idea in the UK Followed by a couple of Business Schools in the UK (Bristol, Newcastle and Falmouth): First year students start with 100 pounds each and start companies in groups. Through the three year program, they are coached in their groups by professional coaches and business school faculty (trained as coaches vs. mentors). Students take courses as needed, from any department and any faculty; when they graduate they get a degree and a company! So far successful and innovative. More info at http://www.akatemia.org.uk/what-is-team- academy/ta-worldwide/ 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 7
What Remains to be Done Develop curricula/set of courses and labs for entrepreneurship and innovation, of interdisciplinary nature, especially between schools of engineering, business, health, sciences. Provide incentives to faculties and departments in Universities. Systematically develop links between such programs and entrepreneurs, VCs, industry executives/senior managers, etc., at various levels: advisory, mentoring, lecturing/teaching, student projects leading, etc. Provide university facilities, infrastructure, resources, for ideation, seeding new projects, working on proof-of-concepts, etc. Some of the US universities programs and centers could serve as best practices (e.g. UC Berkeley). 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 8

More Related Content

Innovation and academia a european perspective - at SRII Indian Summit

  • 1. Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the University - a European Perspective Prof. Dr. Christos N. Nikolaou Transformation Services Lab Computer Science Department University of Crete Prof. Dr. Vali Lalioti Director, Vali Lalioti Ltd. Professor in Leadership & Innovation Antwerp Management School
  • 2. Historically no culture of entrepreneurship in many European countries (but not all!) Tim Berners-Lee, a European, invented the web while working at CERN(Switzerland) but commercial exploitation in USA! Young people were encouraged to study to become employees of large corporations or the government. European innovation policy in the past has been dominated by a focus on research and development (R&D), and an assumption that innovation is about science and technology (Lisbon Council). But this is changing 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 2
  • 3. The effects of crisis in Europe The problems with the banks (Ireland, Spain, ) The problems with the debt-ridden governments of southern Europe, The tough austerity policies and the lack of/anaemic growth in the Eurozone, are pushing governments and people towards empowerment of the human potential, risk taking and innovation, as alternatives to growth. 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 3
  • 4. A flurry of initiatives across Europe Government-led: Horizon 2020: emphasis on innovation, on SME participation, on cooperation between SMEs and universities/research centers Member states: Long tradition in UK (e.g. business parks at Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Southampton, etc.) Spain: Innova (Barcelona Tech), Espai Empren, Lean Startup Creation, German L辰nder Greece: National competition for innovation prices (funded by banks), entrepreneurship courses in some universities (e.g. U. of Crete) Privately-led: Banks (usually) create investment funds, with some public funding and some VC funding. VCs presence not as strong as in the US; VCs very weak after financial crisis. Co-working, Incubators and accelerators, Maker spaces: taking advantage of 3D printing and open innovation, e.g. http://www.greatrecovery.org.uk/ 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 4
  • 5. The University Link Innovation and risk taking are naturally linked to young people (or to people with a young, inquisitive, adventurous mind), Universities have large communities of young people, Therefore, Universities should be natural incubators of innovation and entrepreneurship, And this is already happening in many places around the world USA, UK, 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 5
  • 6. What is being done today Universities, across Europe, usually provide introductory entrepreneurship courses (make your own business plan, etc.), or more advanced ones in Business Schools, Universities host national or regional competitions with awards for innovating ideas in business, Universities create centers for entrepreneurs support (technological, legal, etc., e.g., see program Innova at UPC, Barcelona). However, contact of students and young researchers with VCs and/or successful entrepreneurs tends to be sporadic and educational efforts tend to be fragmented and not interdisciplinary (e.g. only in business schools). Some Universities offer advanced/innovative curricula (see UK example) 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 6
  • 7. The Team Academy Idea in the UK Followed by a couple of Business Schools in the UK (Bristol, Newcastle and Falmouth): First year students start with 100 pounds each and start companies in groups. Through the three year program, they are coached in their groups by professional coaches and business school faculty (trained as coaches vs. mentors). Students take courses as needed, from any department and any faculty; when they graduate they get a degree and a company! So far successful and innovative. More info at http://www.akatemia.org.uk/what-is-team- academy/ta-worldwide/ 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 7
  • 8. What Remains to be Done Develop curricula/set of courses and labs for entrepreneurship and innovation, of interdisciplinary nature, especially between schools of engineering, business, health, sciences. Provide incentives to faculties and departments in Universities. Systematically develop links between such programs and entrepreneurs, VCs, industry executives/senior managers, etc., at various levels: advisory, mentoring, lecturing/teaching, student projects leading, etc. Provide university facilities, infrastructure, resources, for ideation, seeding new projects, working on proof-of-concepts, etc. Some of the US universities programs and centers could serve as best practices (e.g. UC Berkeley). 07/11/2014 SRII India Summit 2014 8