The Entrepreneurship Support System supports and nurtures SMEs and academic entrepreneurs to grow on the European Level. The main goals are to increase the volume of successful start-ups and stimulate SMEs towards faster and international growth. The network of Nodes supports cross-node fertilization and gives partners access to the ICT Labs-wide network of cooperating business developers.

The Entrepreneurship Support System is a support mechanism for start-ups whose activities can contribute to the overall goals of EIT ICT Labs. It stimulates the birth and fast international growth of young SMEs. Entrepreneurs benefit from the extensive information, knowledge and experience that exist within our partner network. Through a variety of mechanisms they are supported to capture new business opportunities and reduce time to market, as well as to extend their business to other nodes and grow internationally. Local support is given to introduce the entrepreneurs to networks and provide support on European regulation.

We support the development of an entrepreneurial mindset through mentoring of master students by temporary placements in entrepreneurial teams. Aspiring entrepreneurs can receive hands-on support in capturing new business opportunities, defining their business, developing business skills needed to manage technology-based companies to successfully reduce time to bring products and services to the market.

EIT ICT Labs partners have extensive experience in supporting entrepreneurs and are already involved in entrepreneurship support activities. The ICT Labs entrepreneurship support system builds upon these strengths and activities.

Aard Groen, University Twente (E) is Business Catalyst Lead; Entrepreneurship Support System