PIONEER+ Project Has Launched to Accelerate Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurial Transformation in Higher Education

About PIONEER+

PIONEER+ is a collaborative project funded by the European Union through the EIT HEI Initiative. Its goal is to accelerate digital transformation and entrepreneurship in higher education across Europe. By working closely with universities, industry, and government, PIONEER+ aims to build a more resilient, competitive, and innovation-driven European higher education ecosystem. The project also supports the creation of more inclusive and sustainable innovation pathways for future generations.

PIONEER+ Project Kicks Off with Successful First Physical Meeting

The PIONEER+ project, part of the EIT Higher Education Institutions (HEI) Initiative, marked a significant milestone with its first-ever physical meeting held on 16 October 2025 at Ionian University. This in-person gathering brought together key stakeholders from universities, industry, and government to discuss the project’s vision and set the stage for future collaboration aimed at driving digital transformation and entrepreneurship across higher education institutions (HEIs) in Europe.

Strengthening Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Knowledge Transfer in Higher Education Across Europe

PIONEER+ is designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship by empowering students, faculty, and researchers with the essential digital skills needed to thrive in today’s digital economy. The project focuses on several key objectives, including:

• Enhancing digital skills across higher education institutions
• Facilitating innovation transfer between academia, industry, and policymakers
• Supporting startups and scale-ups through expert-led consulting and mentorship
• Launching technology transfer offices (TTOs) to boost research commercialization

Leadership Engagement Workshop: Reflecting on Institutional Innovation

Following the consortium meeting, on 17 October 2025, the project hosted the first of five HEI Leadership Engagement workshops. This session brought together university leaders to discuss the results of their HEInnovate self-assessment reports, reflecting on their institution’s readiness for digital transformation and innovation.

The workshop served as a platform for HEI leaders to engage in constructive dialogues and develop strategies for boosting institutional innovation. It also facilitated collaboration among the diverse range of partners in the PIONEER+ consortium, fostering stronger ties between academia, government, and industry.

Online Training Series on Digital Entrepreneurship

In parallel with the physical meeting and workshops, PIONEER+ also launched its first online training series on Digital Entrepreneurship. This series, hosted by Lazarski University, features five expert-led seminars designed to equip participants with practical knowledge in key areas of the digital economy. Topics include:

• Digital Economy 101
• Digital Infrastructure
• E-commerce Basics
• Big Data for Business
• Making Impact in E-business

The online course offered up to 3 ECTS credits to participants. The training targeted students, researchers, and professionals eager to deepen their understanding of digital entrepreneurship and build the skills needed to succeed in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape.

Networking Day on Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Ionian University

Ionian University hosted a Hybrid Workshop on Innovation, Research & Entrepreneurship, serving as a Networking Day for students and researchers.

The event brought together students, researchers, public authorities, university research structures, professional and productive bodies, and financial and entrepreneurship-support organizations from the Ionian Islands Region. Its objective was to promote dialogue on innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer, while creating opportunities for collaboration and for transforming research outcomes into societal and economic impact.

Future Founders Forum (RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau)

Within the framework of the Pioneer+ project, RPTU organized the Future Founders Forum, an international online event designed to support aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage founders, with a particular focus on international students and researchers aiming to start a business in Germany.

The Forum provided practical insights into the German start-up ecosystem, including legal and funding frameworks, support structures, and real start-up experiences shared by experts, investors, and founders. By lowering entry barriers to entrepreneurship and promoting international exchange, the event reinforced the role of universities as key connectors within innovation ecosystems.

Entrepreneurship Research and Collaboration at University of Trier

Project partner Trier University completed several activities advancing entrepreneurship education and research. On 24 November, the university organized an internal workshop on entrepreneurship education and mentoring, focusing on task coordination and identifying synergies within the regional innovation ecosystem. Discussions led to the exploration of potential cooperation with the Bridge Incubator, strengthening links between academic initiatives and start-up support structures.

In parallel, Trier University researchers contributed to Pioneer+ through publications addressing key aspects of entrepreneurship, including investment decision-making, social venture performance, customer selection in social enterprises, microcredits and business survival, and university-based maker entrepreneurship.

A Vision for the Future

The PIONEER+ initiative is committed to driving sustainable, inclusive growth across Europe and positioning universities as key players in the innovation ecosystem of the future.

For more information and keep updated on new opportunities, visit the PIONEER+ website.