The Balanced and Enhanced Collaboration for an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (BECEE) initiative is a transformative project aimed at creating a sustainable, dynamic ecosystem that fosters entrepreneurship and innovation across European higher education institutions (HEIs). This initiative leverages the Greenhouse Framework, a versatile model structured around the phases of Germination, Growth, Scaling, and Transplantation, to nurture entrepreneurial talent, support startup development, and address critical societal challenges, including sustainability, digital transformation, and health innovation.

BECEE brings together a consortium of four distinguished HEIs—Hanze University of Applied Sciences (HUAS), Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), South East Technological University (SETU), and Universiteti “Aleksandër Moisiu” Durrës (UAMD); and four entrepreneurial and innovative enterprises—KPN, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, Innofuse, Zurich, Switzerland, Dungarvan Enterprise Centre, South East, Ireland, and Linda Laboratory, Durrës, Albania—each contributing unique strengths to the initiative. The project is aligned with the objectives of the EIT HEI Initiative and integrates thematic verticals from EIT Digital, EIT Climate, EIT Food, and EIT Health, showcasing the Greenhouse Framework’s adaptability to diverse domains.

Through five interconnected work packages, BECEE will:

• Develop interdisciplinary programs to embed entrepreneurial thinking across curricula (WP1).
• Build regional and international innovation ecosystems to foster collaboration among academia, industry, and government (WP2).
• Support startups through pre-incubation, incubation, and scaling phases, targeting the creation of 20 startups by 2027 (WP3).
• Disseminate knowledge and project outcomes widely, amplifying their impact and encouraging replication across Europe (WP4).
• Ensure effective project management and long-term sustainability, embedding outcomes into institutional practices and securing funding for continuity (WP5).

BECEE is designed to create measurable impact by developing entrepreneurial talent, strengthening innovation ecosystems, and addressing societal challenges. By 2027, the project aims to:

• Equip over 2,000 students and 200 educators with entrepreneurial skills.
• Establish collaborative innovation hubs at partner institutions, connecting local and European ecosystems.
• Launch and scale startups that contribute to regional economic growth and societal well-being.

By integrating the Greenhouse Framework with established theoretical models such as SECI, Illeris’ Learning in Working Life, and Engeström’s Activity Theory, BECEE combines academic rigor with practical application. The initiative’s outcomes will serve as a replicable model for fostering systemic change in HEIs and creating resilient ecosystems capable of addressing the challenges of the future.

Project coordinator

Anja Bos, Stichting Hanzehogeschool Groningen (contact)