The programme aims to equip students with the skills and mindset to become the innovators of tomorrow
It comprises online training and mentoring, a summer school in Italy, a tech hackathon and international internships
The inaugural edition of the EUNICE Entrepreneurship Lab (E-Elab) has marked a significant milestone in the EUNICE European University mission to foster entrepreneurial talent and innovation across Europe. Held between March and July 2025, the programme brought together 60 students from the ten EUNICE partner universities, guiding them through a dynamic journey from ideation to market launch.
E-Elab exemplifies EUNICE ´s commitment to connect education with real-world impact through inclusive cross-border education and its vision of equipping students with the skills and mindset to become the innovators of tomorrow. Structured into three progressive modules, E-Elab was an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme: it combined virtual training, physical collaboration during a summer school, and hands-on internships for the best performers, offering participants—known as E-Elabbers—a comprehensive experience in entrepreneurship.
Best performers
Five students were awarded as best performers of the E-Lab with prizes up to 2,000 euros: Föse Francisco, from Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU), Germany; Aleksandra Makiej, from Poznan University of Technology (PUT), Poland; Stavros Kormas, from the University of the Peloponnese (UOP), Greece; Gilles Delansnay, from the University of Mons (UMONS), Belgium; and Giulia D’Amico, from the University of Catania (UNICT), Italy.
The remaining E-Elabbers have now the opportunity to gain hands-on experience within international entrepreneurship ecosystems, facilitated through the EUNICE Internships and Research portal.
Best Project & Pitch Presentation Award
The first module of E-Lab (March–June) featured 13 online workshops covering key topics such as lean methodology, business modelling, marketing, and pitching. The 34 E-Labbers enrolled were divided into 11 interdisciplinary teams, carefully designed to ensure inclusivity and diversity. Each team matched international students of different genders, academic backgrounds, and home universities, fostering an enriching multicultural environment. This heterogeneity proved to be a strength, encouraging creative problem-solving and innovative approaches to real-world challenges under the guidance of mentors and coaches from academia and industry.
These sessions earned participants 9 ECTS credits and culminated in a Pitch Day on June 24, where an international jury evaluated the teams’ entrepreneurial solutions.
Three teams also were granted Best Project & Pitch Presentation Award:
- Team 4, Innovating for Intercultural Competence and Inclusive Collaboration in Organizations: Filipa Ferreira Andreia (IPV), Barbara Ruiz Bolado (UC), Francisco Föse (BTU).
- Team 10, Artificial Intelligence in Stakeholders Engagement: Fernando Soares Mamede de Caravalho (IPV- Polythechnic Institute of Viseu, Portugal), Dehimat Amina (UMONS), Gilles Delansnay (UMONS), Maksymilian Misiewicz (PUT), Hitesh Kholia Pragat (BTU).
- Team 6, Smart-Cities: Transport and Mobility: Estela Molinero Quintana (UC- University of Cantabria, Spain), Luca Picone (UNICT), Kumar Shani Chandan (BTU), Wiktoria Szymczak (PUT).
Hackathon Thinking
The online training was followed by a Summer School titled “Hackathon Thinking: Bridging Culture, Sparking Innovation” hosted by the University of Catania from June 30 to July 4. This phase emphasized team-building, innovation challenges, and prototyping, culminating in the Tech Hackathon Day on July 3.
Organized in collaboration with Etna Digital Growth, the event part of the EUNICE Incubator showcased the transformation of ideas into tangible projects:
- The winning team, number 3, -comprising Satvros Kormas (UOP), Gilles Delasnay (UMONS), and Giulia D’Amico (UNICT)- impressed the jury with their innovative pitch.
- 2nd place, team 7: J Melonou ospin Hervé Teubou (UMONS), Francisco Föse, Wiktoria Szymczak (PUT), Aleksandra Makiej (PUT).
- 3rd place, team 6: Leon Vitzileos (UoP), Madiane Merbarki (UPHF), Sofia Campos (IPV), Maksymilian Misiewicz (PUT), Miguel Angel de Gregorio Cuentas (UC).
