Science education in the field of entrepreneurship within VU Amsterdam and the UT collaboration has been awarded a € 125,000 European grant. The money will be used to study how this type of education can be further developed and improved, and what impact it has on the upscaling of technological innovations in businesses. The findings from the research will also be used to design new European innovation policy.
According to Marlous Blankesteijn, programme director of the Bachelor’s programme Science, Business & Innovation, the grant is a great boost for the entrepreneurial spirit that characterises the collaboration between VU Amsterdam and the UT.
A future within a company and outside a lab
In Amsterdam, entrepreneurship is taught in the Science, Business & Innovation bachelor's and master's programmes. In Twente it is provided within the minor Entrepeneurship in which Petra de Weerd and Rainer Harms are involved. These courses cover subjects such as how to develop an entrepreneurial spirit, how to translate research results into practical applications and the market and how to set up a start-up. Both universities are showing great interest in this type of education. More and more, science students are opting for a future within a company and outside a lab.
Evaluate, analyse and optimise
Blankesteijn is very pleased with the grant ‘Little research has so far been done into the quality and impact of education on entrepreneurship within a typical science context. It is of course important to be able to properly evaluate and analyse this education in terms of both content and didactics. And that is also necessary to further optimise the education. The grant will enable us to do that in the next 28 months. We will also look at the impact and added value of this type of education for companies. In other words: what knowledge, ideas, insights and innovative power do our students bring to the table when they go on an internship or start working for companies?’
Make a difference
Blankesteijn sees the grant as a fitting reward for the entrepreneurial spirit and outward-looking attitude that characterise the collaboration between VU Amsterdam and the UT. ‘Both universities are working to build lasting connections with each other and with their external relations, the regions and society at large. With our education and research we really want to contribution and make a difference. An entrepreneurial attitude and spirit fit in very well.'
Create new products, businesses and jobs
The European grant is awarded within the framework of the ATTRACT project within the socio-economic impact of new knowledge and technology component. In ATTRACT, six of Europe's leading scientific laboratories have joined forces with those from industry and with experts in the field of business and entrepreneurship. The aim is to develop the next generation of scientific instruments and jointly create new products, businesses and jobs.
For more information on the grant, please contact Marlous Blankesteijn.
Science, Business & Innovation VU Amsterdam
Minor Innovation & Entrepeneurship UT
ATTRACT
