I moved into academia after founding a successful software company, so I appreciate the symbiotic relationship between start-ups and universities. Coming from the fast-paced world of software and services, involving international business collaborations, internal HR challenges and team building, I learned that fostering a start-up culture within a university setting can drive innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
Creating a supportive ecosystem is crucial. In the software industry, innovation hubs serve as centres where ideas flourish, resources are abundant and mentorship is readily available. These hubs facilitate the cross-pollination of ideas between local and international business partners, ensuring a global perspective on innovation. Access to funding plays a pivotal role — software companies often thrive through seed funding, venture capital and strategic grants.
We can translate this model to academia. Establishing education innovation hubs and programme incubators creates dedicated spaces for students, staff and academics to collaborate on groundbreaking educational programmes and provides them access to necessary resources, mentorship and crucial networking opportunities. Just like in the software industry, these hubs can facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and share best practices.
Full story: How to create a start-up dynamic in academia | THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect
