Highlights from the first edition of the EIT HEI Initiative Alumni Forum 2024
The first edition of the EIT HEI Initiative Alumni Forum 2024, held on September 26, was a significant milestone for the initiative. The online event brought together a vibrant community of innovators, entrepreneurs and thought leaders, and was moderated by Nierika Hamaekers an experienced facilitator and moderator within the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.
Welcome Speech: Rosanna West, HEI Capacity Building Initiative Manager
The event began with a welcome speech by Rosanna West, HEI Capacity Building Initiative Manager. She emphasised the importance of maintaining the connections and relationships built within the EIT HEI Initiative community, even after the completion of specific projects or activities.
Rosanna highlighted that the connections, opportunities, and lessons the alumni have gained as part of the EIT HEI Initiative shouldn’t end when their programme or activity ends. She added, ‘This community is about keeping these relationships alive, continuing to learn from each other, and finding new ways to collaborate, share ideas, and grow together.’
Keynote speech: Milena Stoycheva, Chair of the Board of Innovation at the Ministry of Growth and Innovation of Bulgaria
Following Rosanna’s address, the spotlight shifted to the keynote speech by Milena Stoycheva, Chair of the Ministry of Growth and Innovation of Bulgaria. Milena started by highlighting the significance of networks like the EIT HEI Initiative in promoting an entrepreneurial culture.
She then elaborated on how her experience as a policy entrepreneur from the business community enabled her to bring industry and educational institutions closer together. Milena said that fostering collaboration between these sectors is crucial for building sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems in Europe.
‘One of the key areas of focus should be providing more opportunities to support the skills agenda. HEIs and companies need to ensure that lifelong learning is a priority, as people are the biggest asset of any organisation,’ she explained.
She also called for stronger collaboration between HEIs and industry to support start-ups and scale-ups: ‘We need to support the commercialisation of technology through closer collaboration between HEIs and industries, providing not only financial resources but also guidance and networks that can nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs.’
Milena expressed a bold vision for education, calling on educators to act more like entrepreneurs, embracing risk and innovation. She pointed out that universities should move from being ‘gateways’ to becoming ‘portals for knowledge transfer and exchange’, playing a critical role in shaping Europe’s competitive future.
Lessons from alumni: stories of success and failure
The event then transitioned to two insightful presentations from Jasna Pejović, founder of Flourish, and Vilma Puriene, Head of the Technology Transfer Office at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. Both are alumni of the EIT HEI Initiative and shared stories of perseverance, challenges and eventual success.
Jasna spoke about her venture, Flourish, a mobile app designed to enhance emotional intelligence. Despite early scepticism from clients, Jasna teamed up with the University of Montenegro to validate the app’s effectiveness, which ultimately helped Flourish gain traction among universities and corporations.
Meanwhile, Vilma shared how the EuroSpaceHub project, supported by the EIT HEI Initiative, helped her work with start-ups to refine their value propositions and secure funding from venture capitalists. She credited the initiative with providing critical support, mentorship, and access to a strong network that enabled the start-ups to thrive.
The EIT HEI Initiative Alumni platform
After a short break, participants were introduced to the EIT HEI Initiative Alumni platform by Kateryna Skytalinska, Education Officer for the Alumni Community. Kateryna started by saying that the community’s needs are at the heart of the platform: ‘We are building this platform for you and with you.’
Kateryna explained how the platform has been designed to serve as a dedicated space for alumni to continue fostering collaboration, sharing experiences, and building connections beyond their formal involvement with the initiative.
She showcased the platform’s features, designed to connect alumni with career, learning, and funding opportunities, while fostering a collaborative space for knowledge exchange. Kateryna concluded by inviting participants to provide feedback to further tailor the platform to their needs.
Breakout sessions
The event featured two breakout sessions that allowed participants to engage in lively discussions.
Breakout session 1, ‘The entrepreneurial university: myth or reality?’, explored what makes a university entrepreneurial and how entrepreneurship fits into higher education. The session included presentations by alumni Nick Fannin, Head of Enterprise at Edinburgh Napier University, and Bárbara Gabriel, Assistant Professor at the University of Aveiro. Key points included the importance of community, leadership, and creating frameworks for change within HEIs.
Breakout session 2, ‘Learning from successful studentrepreneurs’, showcased stories from alumni entrepreneurs, including Charlie Greener, Founder of Theria Games Ltd, Svetlana Zikic, Co-founder and CEO of Acoustic Technologies, and Lucía García Sopeña, Founder of Plannet. The session focused on balancing studies and ventures, the importance of mentorship, and navigating challenges like time management and networking.
The EIT HEI Initiative Alumni Forum 2024 was an exciting and insightful event, offering invaluable takeaways from leading innovators, entrepreneurs, and educators. If you missed it or want to revisit the highlights, we invite you to watch the full video recording.