Edinburgh Napier is to take part in a new project called EUAcceL.
The EUAcceL consortium creates an international ecosystem across Europe through open innovation, co-creation, and start-up development involving universities, incubators, start-ups and industry partners.
The goal is to foster innovation and start-up development with speed and quality, implement synergies with other innovation network initiatives, and create a leading European programme for entrepreneurship and innovation.
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).
As part of this project, we will be working together with the following partners:
- Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences – project lead
- FH Campus Wien
- GründES! Esslingen University
- The Edge
- Ghent University
- Research Centre of Athens University of Economics and Business
- University of Pisa
Under the EIT’s HEI Initiative, the project will receive funding of €400,000 in phase one and will run until December 2021. The second phase will run until July 2023 with an additional €800,000 of funding being awarded.
Chris Cramphorn, Associate Professor of Enterprise and Innovation within the Business School at Edinburgh Napier, said: “We are both proud and excited to be working with our international partners on this project which builds on the fantastic work on entrepreneurship and start-up incubation within the Business School and our Bright Red Triangle enterprise hub.”
Nick Fannin, Head of Enterprise at Edinburgh Napier, added: “This exciting project will enable us to further unlock our entrepreneurial capabilities and develop the innovative potential of universities across the EU.”
Further information can be found here
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.
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.