In the framework of the HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education call for proposals from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, the partners of the European alliance UNITA Universitas Montium, have been awarded a new project to boost innovation and entrepreneurship in our universities: InnoUNITA. Here is a closer look at the project's objectives and the actions already underway.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT THE HEART OF UNITA'S CONCERNS
Launched in July 2021 for two years, the InnoUNITA (Innovation capacity building in UNITA) project aims to position our higher education institutions in local economic ecosystems to develop and support entrepreneurship in the territories of the alliance. With InnoUNITA, the 6 universities will work to offer students and members of the academic and administrative staff training on entrepreneurship and support them in their business creation projects.
The objective is to offer structured training and support at all stages of entrepreneurship, from the fundamentals to the creation of companies, regardless of the idea, the study track, or the level of study. The universities will make their respective tools available for the benefit of the alliance and will create new, innovative tools on an international scale. The establishment of a digital entrepreneurial ecosystem to network companies, students and staff will boost the economic environment of the UNITA territories.
THE USMB PITON PROJECT: A MODEL FOR THE ALLIANCE
Within the Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB, France), the PITON project is already innovating in terms of student entrepreneurship, by setting up an internship formula that meets the concrete needs of companies, while at the same time enhancing the value of student work. The way it works is relatively simple: the PITON team receives project proposals from companies and selects multidisciplinary teams of volunteer students, who work for a whole semester to meet the company’s expectations. Although the degree of autonomy is very high, PITON is committed to provide training and coaching throughout the project.
This approach, which has already proven its worth with extremely positive results, makes it possible to build links with local companies, while at the same time offering entrepreneurship-oriented professionalization within the academic curricula. With InnoUNITA, PITON will be taken as a model, duplicated in other UNITA universities and thus internationalized. This is an example of genuine exchange of best practices between all the partners.
AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP STAFF WEEK AT USMB
As part of InnoUNITA, the USMB has already organized an entrepreneurship staff week, which took place on the Bourget-du-Lac campus from Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 October. This first event was an opportunity to lay the groundwork for the long-term work that will be carried out for the duration of the project.
Indeed, the twenty or so participants in the InnoUNITA staff week, including twelve guests from other UNITA universities, were able to exchange, share and co-create common bases that will contribute to the achievement of the project's objectives. A presentation of the USMB teams as well as a visit to the new entrepreneurship center on the Bourget-du-Lac campus allowed participants to take advantage of the new facilities and work spaces that are conducive to innovation. The participants were able to share their best practices and work together to present a common work schedule.
In a word, InnoUNITA is a proactive partnership with a clear vision: to train and support entrepreneurship.
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InnoUNITA staff week at USMB
Contacts at USMB :
Chargée de mission : veronique.favre-bonte@univ-smb.fr
Manager de projet : giacomo.marino-gallina@univ-smb.fr