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Ecosystem Integration Lab

Ecosystem Integration Lab For Entrepreneurial And Innovative Research Commercialization In Western Balkans And Eastern Europe (WB-EIL)

The mission of WB-EIL is, by 2030, to become an influential institutional transformation center for universities, research centres and their quadruple helix ecosystems in Western Balkans and Eastern Europe by facilitating an entrepreneurial and innovative approach towards responsible innovation design, development and deployment (commercialization) process. We offer:

  • Free certification opportunities around the 6 toolkits mentioned above. Please familiarize yourself with the guidelines and conditions mentioned below or contact us for more information.
  • One to one mentorship and support scheme for students, academic and non-academic staff interested to make their innovation-development process (or their university) more entrepreneurial and innovative. We work with such stakeholders in order to provide hands-on mentorship enabling them to transform their institution towards becoming a leading actor in their ecosystem. The mentorship themes reside within the knowledge range covered by the 6 toolkits mentioned above.
  • Specialized mentorship for startups and scaleups interested either to learn how to develop their innovation in a responsible manner while also on how to attract investment and connect with key partners.

Training content

 

By registering below, you can access access to the following training content and certifications:

  • Toolkit 1: Entrepreneurial discovery
  • Toolkit 2: Setting up responsible & impactful knowledge and technology transfer office
  • Toolkit 3: Responsible research and innovation
  • Toolkit 4: Investment and financing
  • Toolkit 5: Inclusive KPIs for impactful universities
  • Toolkit 6: Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Stakeholders
STEP 1: REGISTER
STEP 2: ACCESS THE TRAINING CONTENT (CHECK THE TABS BELOW)

Welcome to the RiEcoLab Online Learning Space !

 

Follow the training content available on the tabs (right hand side of this frame) and get certified !

We are more than happy to support you at any point.

Write us at contact@helix-connect.com in case of any trouble

Follow us on Linkedin to stay updated with the latest info !

Toolkit 1 – Participatory Engagement Strategy for facilitating the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process

 

Learning outcomes: 

  • Understand why engaging stakeholders at all stages of the research and innovation journey is important
  • Assess the status of a research project on a research journey
  • Identify and map stakeholders appropriate to the stage of the journey
  • Develop and execute a stakeholder engagement plan
  • Complete an impact canvas

Target groups:

  • Students and researchers who are developing their research plan or who are interested in setting up a new commercial venture or exploiting the commercial impact of research
  • University administrators who support researchers on their research and innovation journey

Training materials:

Assessment:

Toolkit 2 – Setting-up, institutionalising and operationalising the Ecosystem Integration Labs (EILs)

 

Learning outcomes: 

  • Understand the concept and the science behind the RiEcoLab EIL.
  • Identify the wide range of benefits related to the EILs.
  • Operationalize the concept of EIL either as an upgrade of existing knowledge technology transfer (KTT) offices or as completely new institutional units/departments.
  • Set up a business plan/proposal (including financial) to be put forward to university higher management in order to receive institutional support towards establishing EILs.
  • Develop strategies for ensuring institutional commitment and legacy for the EILs.

Target groups:

  • Students and researchers who are developing their research plan or who are interested in setting up a new commercial venture or exploiting the commercial impact of research
  • Administrators who support researchers on their research and innovation journey

Training materials:

Assessment:

Toolkit 3 – Embedding Responsible Research Innovation (RRI) in the innovation spinoffs/start-ups/scale-ups strategy of HEIs

 

Learning outcomes: 

  • Define the policy keys, actors, key principles and process requirements of Responsible Research Innovation
  • Recognize the relevant KPIs and different approaches for measuring RRI outcomes
  • Identify the tools and methods for creating LLs under an RRI perspective
  • Apply a step-by-step plan for setting up LLs under RRI principles
  • Identify existing self-evaluation tools and best practices for RRI and LLs.

Target groups:

  • Upper Management of HEIs (Board of Trustees, Rectors, Vice-Rectors, Deans)
  • Policy Makers and Top Administrators who support Research & Development in other
  • Institutions, such as; R&D Business/Industry Departments; Technology Parks; Technology Transfer Offices; local management offices of Governmental Organizations/Ministries engaged in Research, Technology & Innovation; Development Agencies; Chambers of Industry and Commerce; NGOs and Associations of Business/Industry people (ex. Young Entrepreneurs, Export associations, etc) and identified EILs Associated Partners.
  • Graduate students and researchers who are engaging in research and innovation wishing to exploit the commercial impact of their research

Training materials:

Assessment:

Toolkit 4 – Bridging public and private impact investors to support spin-offs, startups, scale-ups

 

Learning outcomes: 

  • Identify the most important factors in a new venture to check before asking for/providing funding
  • Understand what impact investment is
  • Go through the fundraising cycle with a clear image of the different players involved
  • Develop/evaluate a pitch
  • Establish positive Investee-Investor relations
  • Identify an exit strategy

Target groups:

  • Students, researchers and entrepreneurs who are developing their research plan or who are interested in setting up a new commercial venture or exploiting the commercial impact of research
  • Entities who support the students, researchers and entrepreneurs mentioned above and want to help them to access capital
  • Public and private investors who want an overview of best practices in funding.

Training materials:

Assessment:

Toolkit 5 – Implementation of an inclusive (operationally, environmentally, socially) performance measurement system to monitor the impact of the spin-offs/startups/ scale-ups

 

Learning outcomes: 

  • Understand the concept of impact and its dimensions
  • Know the possible approaches to and benefits of impact measurement and management
  • Recognize the relevant metrics and indicators related to new practices that each HEI should possess to support the development of impactful startups/ scale-ups
  • Recognize the relevant metrics and indicators related to measuring the actual impact of the emerged start-ups/scale-ups via their launched innovations in the nearby region
  • Be familiar with case studies of university start-ups and scale-ups that have been chosen to represent different types of impacts on the economic, natural and social environment.

Target groups:

  • Students and researchers who are developing their research plan or who are interested in setting up a new commercial venture
  • Graduate students and researchers who are engaging in research and innovation wishing to exploit the commercial impact of their research
  • HEI administrators who support researchers on their research
  • Upper Management of HEIs (Board of Trustees, Rectors, Vice-Rectors, Deans)
  • Policy Makers and Top Administrators who support Research & Development in other Institutions, such as; R&D Business/Industry Departments; Technology Parks; Technology Transfer Offices; local management offices of Governmental Organizations/Ministries engaged in Research, Technology & Innovation; Development Agencies; Chambers of Industry and Commerce; NGOs and Associations of Business/Industry people (ex. Young Entrepreneurs, Export associations, etc) and identified EILs Associated Partners.

Training materials:

Assessment:

Toolkit 6 – Effective collaboration, innovation, entrepreneurship, participatory engagement and co-creation in a digital environment (DigComp and EntreComp)

 

Learning outcomes:

  • Understand how innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration adapt to the digital environment;
  • Identify the tools, skills and competencies needed to compete in a digital environment;
  • Identify the stakeholders with whom they can collaborate for a successful business journey.

Target groups:

  • Students, researchers and other youngster who aim to develop a business or a spin-off in a digital environment;
  • Non-academic staff who support research activities and need to develop their digital, collaborative and entrepreneurial skills.

Training materials:

Assessment:

STEP 3: GET CERTIFIED
Toolkit 1 Certification Test Toolkit 2 Certification Test Toolkit 3 Certification Test Toolkit 4 Certification Test Toolkit 5 Certification Test Toolkit 6 Certification Test
OPTIONAL: REQUEST ADDITIONAL MENTORSHIP

For one to one mentorship (regardless of your interests) please send us an email to contact@helix-connect.com and one of our colleagues will get in touch within 2 working days.

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Institutional Change

Partnerships

Innovation

Entrepreneurship

Knowledge Sharing

317

Students Trained

22

Students Mentored

52

Academics Trained

11

Academics Mentored

55

Non Academics Trained

25

Non Academics Mentored

13

Startups Supported

7

Investors Engaged