Background & Vision

European regions ensure a high quality of life. Their cultural identities are a source for innovation and their locally anchored small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) make significant contributions to the European economy. Such regional ecosystems with their medium-sized cities and rural surroundings have specific strengths. Although Higher Education Institutes (HEI) in these areas are unable to keep up with universities of metropolitan areas, which compete in research-oriented global rankings, they play a vital role for regional development. For this reason, E.I.N.S. pursues a strategy of linking comparatively small, but agile, regionally anchored HEIs together and use their agility as a strength. E.I.N.S. embraces concepts such as challenge-based education, mission-oriented research, human-centred innovation and furthers open and engaged knowledge exchange. Overall, E.I.N.S. aims to promote regional innovation ecosystems through smart specialization and pan-European collaboration. 

Project Content and Project Partners

Within E.I.N.S. - the European University Alliance E³UDRES² and UIIN, the University Industry Innovation Network join forces to co-ideate novel pathways for entrepreneurial universities, to drive the development of entrepreneurial education, to co-create advanced support for innovation and business creation, and to enhance collaboration across the knowledge triangle (business, education and research) beyond the state of the art.
The focus on smart and sustainable regions not only puts emphasis on bottom-up innovation and the major contributions of SME’s to the European economy and labour market, but also on the benefits of different cultural identities. 
E.I.N.S. comprises an international consortium of small, but agile HEIs promoting their regions: St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences (Austria), Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal (Portugal), Politechnica University of Timisoara (Romania), University for Agriculture and Life Sciences (Hungary), University College Leuven Limburg (Belgium) and the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Latvia) and collaborates with UIIN, the University Industry Innovation Network . To complete the knowledge triangle (i.e., research, education, innovation) a wide variety of associated partners such as business agencies, incubators, accelerators, venture funds, start-up communities and other change agents for a digital and green transition are invited to get actively involved in the project. Just like the consortium of HEI’s, these partners are also anchored regionally and connected globally, thereby offering access to regional communities and resources as well as relevant European networks. 

Goals

Overall, E.I.N.S. co-ideates novel pathways for entrepreneurial universities, propels forward  entrepreneurial education, co-creates advanced support for innovation and business creation and facilitates collaboration across the knowledge triangle.
In order to further develop and strengthen innovation capacity, E.I.N.S defines four long-term strategic priorities:

• empower and support „Ent-Re-Novators” (entrepreneurs, researchers, innovators, educators, intermediaries) to bridge the gaps within the knowledge-triangle.
• enhance entrepreneurial education to enable learner driven innovation
• link smart specialisation and open innovation to connect regional ecosystems with pan-European networks
• provides expertise and resources to turn ideas into value for smart and sustainable European regions

Methods

In line with E³UDRES² long-term vision, E.I.N.S. is rooted in an inspiring, open, agile and inclusive academic culture and pursues a holistic approach that integrates four main areas of activity: (1) excellent challenge-driven higher education, (2) mission-oriented research, (3) human-centred innovation and (4) multidirectional open and engaged knowledge exchange to promote the development of small and medium-sized cities and their rural regions. 

Results

In agreement with the aims E³UDRES², E.I.N.S. provides activities, services, formats and methods to interact on structured institutional levels within cross-sectoral, cross-disciplinary, cross-generation and cross-position collaborative settings. It promotes and draws inspiration from a network of regionally anchored European partners (from higher education institutions, industry and entrepreneurs) with their specific experiences and skills. Overall, E.I.N.S. aims to make a contribution to a prosperous future in a progressive European society, and co-create novel ideas and seminal concepts for future universities. 

Further Information:

Homepage: https://eudres.eu/eins

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eudres_european_university/ (Visual 1:1 format, short teaser) 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eudres.eu 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eudres-european-university/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/eudres_alliance  

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClSfStEMKOUd5d2zKkhwVvQ