25 July 2024
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On 3 and 4 June 2024, more than 200 representatives from higher education institutions, industry, research institutions and non-governmental organisations gathered in Brussels to celebrate the milestone achieved by the as the pilot phase concluded. The EIT HEI Initiative is a joint activity of the EIT community, which recognises higher education institutions (HEIs) as the pivotal actors in regional and European innovation ecosystems.
The event was hosted by EIT Manufacturing, bringing together attendees from over 30 countries to share best practices, expand networks and explore collaboration opportunities to foster capacity building and knowledge exchange in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The event featured inspiring keynote speeches, panel discussions, breakout sessions and poster presentations. These provided attendees with food for thought to reflect on the achievements of the pilot phase and highlighted the initiative’s role as a facilitator of knowledge exchange and a driver of pan-European collaboration in future endeavors.
During his engaging keynote speech, Dr. Valtencir Mendes, Chief of Education at UNESCO Regional Office Chile, known for his pioneering research on multi-stakeholder partnerships and educational innovations, emphasised the need for HEIs to foster local ecosystems with a global mindset and create communities of practice to promote knowledge sharing.
Following the speech, two panels were organised to give a policy perspective on the objectives, opportunities and challenges of the HEI Initiative, as well as to discuss current needs and future trends in higher education in Europe. The panel discussions featured a compelling lineup of panellists, including Prof. Dr. Henrich Arnold, Board Member at EIT; Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva, Director for Innovation at DG EAC; Pavlina Vujovic, Head of Internationalisation at Strascheg Centre for Entrepreneurship; and István Vilmos Kovacs, Director for Learning and Teaching at Budapest Metropolitan University, among others.
Education alone is not enough to drive impact. We need universities to cultivate innovation and entrepreneurial capacity.
Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva, Director of Innovation, Digital Education, and International Cooperation at the European Commission
After the sessions, attendees had the opportunity to take part in breakout sessions focusing on startup support, success stories, lessons learned from HEI projects and smart specialisation.
The success of this event has further strengthened the HEI Initiative’s role in cultivating a dynamic and knowledge-driven community. This community is committed to expediting and reshaping innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education through collaboration and enhanced knowledge transfer.