WP4. Marketization – ABCD Eco-System connections

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  The goal of this work package is to provide a basis for the development of the entrepreneurial culture of the universities and their embeddedness within the business ecosystem of their region. The activities within the work package will enable building linkages between Universities, businesses, public sector and the NGO sector. It will also outreach to international cooperation where Universities serve as innovation hubs, as proactive agents of smart specialisation and RIS challenges. An outcome is to create a database of relevant corporate partners and a CRM sthat could support deep tech initiatives of students and Universities and enable development of mutual system to enable the related progress.  This will also help the sustainability of the project activities after the project financial support finishes. 

UACS will share the experience of the creation of the Business Council with the rest of the partner Universities. Each University will then be in charge of mapping relevant partners and approaching them.

Tasks: 

T 4.1. Database of corporate and social partners (Focused on mapping of the partnership opportunities with the business sector, the NGO sector, and relevant public sector institutions in partnership with the member HEIs) (May-November 2023)

T 4.2. Business Partner Clubs: The linkages between the relevant actors will be used to provide learning opportunities to students and staff in cooperation with the ecosystem partners. The accent will be on finding DeepTech solutions to existing business issues. (piloting August-November 2023, extension in the second Phase)

T 4.3. ABCD knowledge assets (creating a repository of knowledge, services and support mechanisms that each University can offer as commercial ideas. (September – November 2023)

T 4.4. Matching partners and ideas The Universities will develop (F2F event based and social media internal mechanisms to support students and staff in looking for and being more successful in securing financial support for their innovative ideas and business ventures.

T 4.5. Integration into the local innovation ecosystem (Partners will develop pro-active roles, support services and activities to regional eco-system, the Smart Specialisation Strategies and promoting the EIT initiative of deep tech solutions. 

Deliverables: 

D 4.1.1 Partners DataBase by each HEI (October 2023) (Further developed in the second phase)

D 4.1.2 The Consortium will have a CRM strategy in Phase 1 (November 2023)

D 4.2. Guide, how to run a Business Partner Club (July 2023)

D 4.3. Creation of a repository of deep tech research results, business ideas and services that the member Universities can offer for commercialization purposes. (November 2023, further extended in the second phase)

D 4.4. The strategy of each HEI and a “Guide of effective mechanisms for attracting financial support, funding business development” for all partners

M 4.1 Business Partners Club concept delivered, start of pilot (July 2023)

M 4.2 Data collection finished for data partners and deep tech research projects (Oct 2023)

M 4.3 CRM strategy completed (Nov 2023)

M 4.4 ABCD International conference for matching partners and ideas (May 2024)