Ettore Deodato InEUROPE 2020 How to attract EU Funds for Universities-Enterprises teamwork

“When I was an undergrad student, I always hoped for a mentor to take me under his wing; teach me everything he knew. It would be a win-win situation. He partners with me, invests in me (time, education, and possibly even money). I could be his business and entrepreneurial clone. He would then have 48 hours in his day, 14 days in his week, and 730 days in his year..”

WHY GRADUATES? “One of the most important elements of building a sustainable entrepreneurial community over a long period of time is for the entire existing entrepreneurial community to be extremely welcoming to young Universities graduates.” (Bill Gates)

The situation in EU ? 51% of young Europeans graduates would be interested to follow an entrepreneurial route, but too few of them know how to put their ambitions into practice (Source : EUROBAROMETER) The internationalisation of European SMEs is insufficient, with only 8% of them exporting their goods and services within the EU. (Source : DG ENTR, EC)

ERASMUS FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS While Erasmus is a great chance for Bachelor students to spend some time abroad, and Erasmus Mundus offers a similar opportunity for Masters, there is another program by the European Union that even goes a step further: Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs offers people who are thinking about starting up their own business, and those who are already a successful entrepreneur, a similar way to exchange ideas and gain new experiences.ErasmusErasmus Mundus

THE PROGRAMME Set up in early 2009, Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs offers graduates and new entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn from an experienced entrepreneur who is running a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in another EU country.

The exchange of experience takes place during a stay with the experienced entrepreneur, which helps the aspiring entrepreneur acquire the skills needed to run a small firm. The host benefits from fresh perspectives on his/her business and gets the opportunities to cooperate with foreign partners or create a new branch

Universities as I.O. Universities are perfectly eligible to become Information Offices with European grants. These entities are selected by the European Commission and they will guide young graduates throughout their exchange: help them with the application, help them establish a successful relationship with a suitable entrepreneur as well as providing graduates with all the answers to their questions.

I ACTION ! Careers Officers acting as local I.O. will become managers (with EU Funds) of young graduates and look for the hosting entrepreneurs assessing also the applications. Once accepted, young graduates will be able to search for the“right”entrepreneur.

Success Stories New entrepreneur: Laura Vidal (Spain) Graduated University of Murcia Company name: (Start-up) Sector of activity: ICT Broadly speaking it has been a very positive and enriching experience. Now I can start my own business……….. Host entrepreneur: Matthias Lechner (Austria) Company name: MKO Sector of activity: ICT The establishing of the international contact might lead to future co-operations.

Universities are in a key position to orientate young graduates to become entrepreneur They can easily apply for European Grants

The three CIP operational programmes open to Universities: The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP) The Information Communication Technologies Policy Support Programme (ICT- PSP) The Intelligent Energy Europe Programme (IEE)

Entrepreneurship Education Creating trans-European models for primary and secondary school teachers to support the development of their skills and methods in applying entrepreneurial learning to different teaching subjects and to different contexts. Developing, organising and executing cross-European training/education workshops for teachers of entrepreneurship at institutions of higher education (universities, colleges, business schools, universities of applied sciences, etc.).

What does it mean for Universities ? Encouraging an entrepreneurial culture and promoting the creation and growth of SMEs Promoting entrepreneurship, including among specific target groups. Developing entrepreneurial skills especially among new entrepreneurs, young people and women. Supporting for building-up, together with the Secondary Education Schools, entrepreneurial education, skills and attitudes, in particular among potential and new entrepreneurs

What does it mean for Universities ? Institutional cooperation between educational institutions, youth organisations, businesses, local and regional authorities and NGOs, to encourage the development and implementation of innovative practices in education, training and youth activities, and to promote employability, creativity and entrepreneurship.

Universities and Entrepreneurs together Keep an eye on the future EU funding opportunities and go towards EUROPE 2020

Thank you ! Ettore Deodato InEUROPE