In this project we are collaborating with 5 partner universities (Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, University West, University of Franche-Comté and Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës) with the addition of 3 partners from the application sphere (companies). The project was mainly made possible thanks to the support of STARS EU, which supported the preparation of the project with a Seed Grant, allowing us to get external help and guidance in the development of the project application.

The project itself will seek to connect and develop the innovation ecosystem in the region and the so-called Regional Acceleration Programmes (RAP) will play a key role in this process. We will draw on the example of the Netherlands, where such a programme called Noorderlingen works particularly well, and in the project we will adapt this example of good practice to the conditions of individual universities and then pilot it. The aim of the RAP is to help accelerate student entrepreneurship projects, thus contributing not only to the development of the students themselves, but also to the development of the innovation and business environment in the region. Local partners (Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre, Regional Chamber of Commerce) will be involved in the design and implementation and together we will connect with other innovation ecosystems formed around universities in other regions where the RAP will be piloted (France, Portugal, Albania).

The project is planned to run for 2 years with a total allocation of 500 thousand EUR. Silesian University will be represented by a team from the School of Business Administration – Dalibor Šimek, Pavel Adámek, Radka Bauerová, Šárka Zapletalová, Jana Šimáková, Tomáš Pražák, Roman Šperka and Tomáš Gongol. If the project is successful, our team will be responsible for leading and organising the pilot implementation of the RAP in the regions, as well as the subsequent creation of a 'cookbook' that could be followed by other universities in Europe.

We believe that the project has a chance to succeed even in the tough international competition and thus expand the activities of the Silesian University with another programme aimed at promoting entrepreneurship flavoured with international cooperation, all on a scientific basis.