Methodology

The IMPACTWHEEL HEIs make use of the pioneer partners’ expertise and past experiences in HEI initiatives, such as INNOUNITA, ECOACTION, UNIcorn or UNITeD, to spur the translation of academic knowledge into the market, not only by boosting existent businesses with disruptive and impactful innovations, but also by creating high tech companies with solutions to disrupt market challenges. To do so, the partners will unveil underutilized competencies and skills.

Phase 1 of the project (April – December 2025) methodology lays on a process of crowdsourcing ideas and creating actionable training tools to capacitate the HEIs for innovation and entrepreneurship, it is focused on collection, synthesis, and operationalization of good practices, alongside the development and testing of training materials. The training of trainers in the VCW (Value Creation Wheel) method establishes a consistent foundation, followed by the analysis of challenges and the setting of assessment metric. Ideas are gathered from stakeholders and assessed, refined, and narrowed down based on their viability. Selected concepts are operationalized, and best practices are mapped with the involvement of SMEs, start-ups, and networks. Training and mentoring materials are developed, and the first pilot sessions and workshops for SMEs and start-ups are conducted. Crowdsourcing is also utilized to gather and refine ideas, helping shape the future activity portfolio.
An initial Step#1 of mapping the partners’ good practices in terms of training, accelerating and mentoring entrepreneurial and innovations skills, will use the VCW approach to filter the amount of information and decide the best course of action, to retain the best content, produce common tools, and integrate those in the consortium institutions. This process uses a train-the-trainers perspective for the pioneer partners to transfer to the novices. Then, Step#2 comprises the use of the results from Step#1, the filtered good practices in line with the cartography of all actors, internal and external, enrolled in the process.

Phase 2 (January 2026 – April 2027) shifts the focus to exploration, exploitation, and institutionalization. Training and mentoring continue for academic and non-academic staff, students, and start-ups, while business. In more detail: partnerships are fostered, and entrepreneurship programs are developed. An Entrepreneurship Steering Committee is established, and minors and certificates are integrated into degree programs. The project also evaluates engagement processes, promotes results through a communication plan, and ensures sustainability. Ongoing monitoring and cross-fertilization of ideas enhance entrepreneurial performance, securing long-term impact, fostering innovation, and creating a sustainable framework for future initiatives.
Step#3, after co-creating the good entrepreneurial practices, will be targeted to share them and use them inside the consortium institutions, in line with the HEI self-assessment on a “common-learning” basis. This step will comprise the piloting of the advanced skills and competences training schemes, the activities targeted at nurturing and mentoring entrepreneurial teams, the support to start-up creation and scaling, utilizing the market and commercial expertise of the participating Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs).
Step#4 will comprise the institutionalization of the tools piloted in previous steps, by involving top management of the HEIs, rectors and vice-rectors jointly with policy makers of the HEI Initiative and EIT community, in conferences and meetings with the remaining exes of the triple helix, the industry stakeholders, to continuous improve the tools, adjust to the technological constant development and to contextual frameworks and legislations.
Finally, Step#5 will focus on working towards the future, i.e., actions planned beyond the duration of the project to demonstrate the project’s sustainability and long-term vision and also the project’s impact post- funding.

Project timeline