The project activities address the role of higher education institutions (HEIs), which has changed over the last 10 years: universities are not just educational and research institutions anymore − they are increasingly expected to produce research to solve societal challenges.

The UNIcorn project has four main objectives:

  • develop and strengthen technology transfer processes in participating HEIs;
  • enhance entrepreneurial education;
  • strengthen technology transfer partnerships;
  • improve the impact framework of technology transfer and entrepreneurial education.
     

SSE Riga is a partner (non-leading institution), responsible for the activity package "Enhancing Entrepreneurial Education" with initial funding of € 243 000. As part of this project, the SSE Riga faculty will be working alongside TalTech, University of Tartu, University of Tallinn, University of Vilnius, and Technalia (from Spain). The project will run for 24 months and will be concluded in July 2023.


Project activities involve a number of knowledge-sharing events with entrepreneurship ecosystem stakeholders – companies, investors, private and public venture capital funds, public innovation agencies, industry clusters, and start-up communes. 

"Participation in this very significant project, and leadership of the work package aimed at enhancing entrepreneurial education in the Baltics, not only attests to the exceptional quality of entrepreneurial education provided by SSE Riga, but also allows us to develop interoperability in this area with TalTech, Universities of Vilnius, Tartu and Tallinn," highlights Dmitrijs Kravčenko, project leader and Entrepreneurship Specialization Course Director at SSE Riga.

The project will receive funding from the EIT’s HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education. This new initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) aims to boost the entrepreneurial and innovation capacity of higher education institutions (HEIs).

Stay tuned for more information about this project in the coming months!

 

About the EIT’s HEI initiative

The EIT’s HEI Initiative is a key objective for the EIT as part of its new strategy, the EIT Strategic Innovation Agenda 2021−2027. The initiative aims to support higher education institutions with expertise and coaching, access to the EIT innovation ecosystem, and funding, enabling them to develop innovation action plans complementing the needs of individual higher education institutions. As part of its Pilot Phase, the initiative has provided funding to 23 projects, with the next call for proposals expected towards the end of 2021.
 

About the EIT

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) strengthens Europe’s ability to innovate by powering solutions to pressing global challenges and by nurturing entrepreneurial talent to create sustainable growth and skilled jobs in Europe. The EIT is an EU body and an integral part of Horizon Europe, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The Institute supports dynamic pan-European partnerships, EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities, among leading companies, research labs and universities.