Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Europe

Description

This course focuses on the value of knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship in European business and will familiarise students with the interplay between science and technology and the commercialization of knowledge and design.  It will be challenging and we will visit some top-companies in the Netherlands. The course covers two weeks and if you like you can add one week in Italy (course B46) to the course.

Building business models from an in-depth understanding of the gap between innovation and business in Europe. You will explore innovation challenges faced by European companies, gain insights into how governments and business cultures in the European Union influence innovation, and discover the traits of innovative ventures and people.

We start with the focus of successful clusters in the Netherlands. Agribusiness is one of them, and so is the Food Valley Netherlands.

Having the capacity to adapt to an ever-changing business environment is turning out to be the single most important factor for companies to remain successful. With the European Union (EU) struggling for its once crucial role in the global economy, this perhaps goes even more for European companies than for those on other continents. Incredibly tough competition -both within the EU as well as from other parts of the world-, an economic crisis that does not seem to end, and the legislative opportunities and barriers within the EU, are all factors that are challenging European companies and initiatives in remaining successful players in their field.

This two-weeks' course provides you with the opportunity to explore these challenges and the solutions companies find, as well as gain an insight into how the different business cultures in the EU influence the choices that are made. Optimization of supply chains, emergence of new business models, implementation of corporate social responsibility, focus on sustainable innovation, and creative approaches to brand identity – these are all (parts of) innovation strategies used by European companies to deal with their challenges and prepare for the future.

The rapidly changing business world also affects today’s job market and increases the need for innovative and entrepreneurial individuals. Often, this requires more than a brilliant idea or unique skill set. For the next generation of leaders this course offers the opportunity to develop the mind-set, skills, competencies and experiential learning that enable you to promote innovation either as a productive member of an emerging firm or as an entrepreneur. You will work on topics like personal values, communication, and team diversity enabling you to develop your own creativity, opportunity-seeking and opportunity-recognizing abilities.

The course combines a theoretical and practical approach. Interactive lectures, group assignments and company visits will help you to shape your views on what works and what doesn’t.  

You will build your own innovative business model.

During the course we will pay attention to the  Supply chain. The focus will be on production, logistics and inbound aspects.  If you decide to add-on the study-trip to Italy (B46) you will also focus on the market-proposition, and will so 'close' the exploration of business modelling.

NB: This course is part of:

1. The five-weeks track: Innovation in European Business. This five-week track can also be extended to six weeks by adding the Global Management Simulation programme (B47); the six-weeks track is B45 (Innovation in European Business XXL)
2. The four-weeks track The Essence of International Business (B48), which will take you on a filed-trip to Italy (Milano) in the 3rd week..

Optionally, you can add one week in Italy (course B46) to this course; during the week in Italy the focal point will be new business models and high end-industry in design. If you do so you will spend two weeks in Utrecht and a third week in Milano

What previous students say about this course

"I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the classes, the programme leader was an incredible professor and made lessons so much fun. The social programmes were great and I met a lot of wonderful people from across the globe. Every interaction taught me something new and exciting".

"This is a very interesting course. If you’re looking to meet lots of new friends and a good and interactive professor with a broad perspective, it is absolutely perfect. It will give you a good and trustworthy look into (sustainable) business, innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe. However, if you are looking to be deeply challenged about ideas on how to set up a business in Europe, this isn’t the right course for you".

B27 Day-today Innovation and Entrepeneurship 2024.pdf

Target audience

This course is an interesting challenge for students in Business Studies, and is also open to Bachelor and Master students from other fields. The main requirement is that students have either some background or an interest in innovation, trends and issues in the EU. A good command of English is necessary.

Aim of the course

Learning Objectives:

• Analyzing mega trends
• Planning a Scenario for an idea
• Idea generation
• Deconstruction Supply Chain
• Construction sustainable Supply chain
• Developing knowledge on Dutch clusters, for example the agribusiness
• Developing knowledge on innovation models and business models
• Final objective: build your own sustainable innovative business model: from idea to launch

Study load

102 hours of lectures/field excursions + assignments (including self-study).

Tags

• business models
• entrepreneurship
• European business
• financing models
• innovation certificate
• innovation strategies
• scenario planning
• trends