The project, which has received funding of around 2 million euros, was selected by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Alongside the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Mittweida University of Applied Sciences is also involved in Central Saxony.

The TU Bergakademie Freiberg is drawing on its expertise in entrepreneurship and the online teaching formats tried and tested in TUBAFdigital. Since 2015, the TU Bergakademie Freiberg has also been represented in the EIT RawMaterials Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC EIT RawMaterials) through the “EIT RawMaterials – Regional Centre Freiberg”; since 2020, it has been a founding member of EURECA-PRO. “Together, we are now even stronger,” says project coordinator Willem Zank of TUBAFdigital. “EURECA-SPARK brings together students, researchers and businesses, and supports them in transforming research into innovation and innovation into economic growth. To earn the certificate, participants tackle real-world challenges from industry whilst acquiring skills in the areas of intellectual property management, market validation and responsible resource management. Thanks to virtual formats, the project consortium and the courses are truly European in scope.”

Bridging the gap: from the lab to the market

At the heart of EURECA-SPARK is the development of a fully digital, multi-module ‘MicroDegree’ in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The curriculum, comprising at least ten standalone microcredentials, is being developed jointly by universities, research centres and industry partners. Furthermore, the project is establishing a dedicated start-up pathway that seamlessly links student and academic innovations with regional incubators and top-class European accelerator programmes. This is achieved through close collaboration with the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs): EIT RawMaterials, EIT 28digital and EIT Climate-KIC. The initiative will focus strongly on forward-looking global fields, including critical raw materials, digital technologies, the circular economy and climate technologies.

Strong European collaboration

EURECA-SPARK draws on a high-performing network of leading European higher education institutions and industry hubs. The core universities driving the initiative include:

• Bergakademie Freiberg University of Technology (Germany)
• University of León (Spain)
• Technical University of Crete (Greece)
• University of Lorraine (France)
• Mittweida University of Applied Sciences (Germany)

The network of EURECA-PRO universities is complemented by strategic project partners, including companies and institutes from Sweden, Italy and the Netherlands. The project contributes directly to the European Union’s overarching goal of training around 200,000 STEM students and staff in entrepreneurship by 2028. The aim is to ensure that the next generation of innovators has the practical tools to set up competitive start-ups and strengthen the global position of European industry.