Activities
4th Consortium Meeting in Pamplona
24 – 25 March 2026
The IMPACTWHEEL consortium recently met in Pamplona, Spain, where we were warmly welcomed by our partner, Universidad Pública de Navarra. Over the course of the meeting, partners from across Europe came together to discuss project progress, share experiences, and plan the next steps of the project.
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Beyond the meetings and presentations, Pamplona provided the perfect setting for collaboration and discussion. The welcoming atmosphere and the strong engagement from our Spanish partners created an environment where ideas, experiences, and perspectives were openly shared, reinforcing the collaborative spirit that defines the IMPACTWHEEL project.
The meeting in Pamplona focused on how universities can further develop, implement, and institutionalize entrepreneurship and innovation activities. Rather than working in isolation, partner universities shared their experiences, programs, and initiatives related to entrepreneurship education, innovation activities, and collaboration with industry and regional ecosystems.
Throughout the discussions, partners shared their experiences and ongoing initiatives, allowing the consortium to exchange ideas, discuss common challenges, and explore how different approaches can be adapted across institutions.
Meetings like this are an important part of the project, as they allow partners to align their work, learn from each other, and strengthen collaboration across institutions and countries. The IMPACTWHEEL journey continues, and the discussions in Pamplona brought new ideas, new collaborations, and renewed motivation for the next phase of the project.
Do not forget to follow the project on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Phase 1 in Action: Activities and Results
January 2026
January is an ideal moment to reflect on achievements. Phase 1 of the IMPACTWHEEL project was implemented between April and December 2025, covering nine months of structured development, testing, and learning. The main objective of this phase was to strengthen entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology transfer in higher education institutions through the application of the Value Creation Wheel (VCW) methodology.
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Key milestones of Phase 1
April 2025: Partner alignment and launch of the project planning phase.
June 2025 (Portugal): Kick-off meeting, VCW Train-the-Trainers workshop, and beginning of course co-creation activities.
July-September 2025: Online coordination meetings focused on updating training content and preparing pilot courses.
October 2025 (Latvia): Review of project deliverables, implementation of pilot courses, and assessment of higher education institution engagement.
December 2025 (Italy): KPI analysis, finalisation of pilot activities, and establishment of the Quality and Ethics Committee.
These transnational and online meetings laid the groundwork for transforming academic knowledge into practical activities. Following the planning phase, the project shifted to implementation, with partner institutions across Europe testing, refining, and applying the VCW methodology within real university environments.
Phase 1 results:
108 academic staff trained and mentored
554 students trained and mentored
110 non-academic staff trained and mentored
13 start-ups supported
Finalizing Financial Reporting for Phase One
We’ve also completed the financial reporting in Bluebook for Phase One. This was a true team effort, with all partners working closely together to make sure everything met the required compliance standards. By aligning our data, validating costs, and double-checking documentation, we ensured a smooth and transparent reporting process. With Phase One now officially wrapped up from a financial perspective, we’re ready to kick off Phase Two with confidence.
The outcomes of Phase 1 exceeded initial expectations and provided valuable insights into the drivers of innovation within higher education. The results also confirmed the effectiveness of the Value Creation Wheel methodology as a practical tool for fostering entrepreneurship and technology transfer in university settings. 🎉
Be sure to follow the project to stay up to date with our progress on LinkedIn and Instagram.
3rd Consortium Meeting in Turin
December 3rd – 4th
IMPACTWHEEL partners reunited in Turin for two days dedicated to collaboration, knowledge sharing, and shaping the next steps of the project — transforming concepts into real impact.
On the 3rd of December, we concluded our 3rd Consortium Meeting, marking an important milestone as we completed the initial stage of the project and set the course for the next phase.
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During this gathering, partners worked collectively to:
🔹 Take stock of progress within each Work Package
🔹 Exchange expertise and reinforce cooperation
🔹 Finalise key deliverables, including KPIs, Good Practices, and the outcomes of the mentoring pilots
🔹 Advance sustainability analyses and performance evaluation activities
🔹 Align on priorities and planning for 2026
One of the key highlights of the meeting was the remarkable progress achieved so far, with KPI results significantly exceeding expectations. This success reflects the strength of our partnership — built on co-creation, collaboration, and meaningful cultural shifts among the partners.
As highlighted during the discussions, IMPACTWHEEL stands out compared to previous initiatives thanks to its integrative approach, the use of the Value Creation Wheel (VCW) in piloting training, and the ability to navigate cultural and regulatory diversity across the participating countries.
We were reminded that, through our collective actions, we are not only driving innovation — we are reinforcing people’s confidence that there is a second option, a new way forward toward sustainable impact.
This meeting has strengthened the foundation for the next phase of #IMPACTWHEEL. The discussions in Turin outlined a clear roadmap — one that includes ambitious goals, deeper collaboration, and new opportunities to support innovation across European HEIs.
Our momentum continues, and we look forward to the work ahead.
A heartfelt thank you to all partners for your commitment, collaboration, and valuable contributions — together, we continue advancing innovation across Europe.
Do not forget to follow the project on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Advancing Regional Innovation: Launch of the IMPACTWHEEL Workshops
October – December 2025
Last month marked a major milestone for IMPACTWHEEL, as we rolled out our first workshops across key partner regions. These sessions represent the tangible beginning of our journey to bring the Value Creation Wheel (VCW) methodology into action, empowering higher education institutions to embed entrepreneurial thinking, deepen regional innovation ecosystems, and turn academic knowledge into real-world impact.
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What we did
Starting October 27th, our partners started hosting workshops. Let’s have a rundown of the events:
October 22–November 21: SSE Riga introduced course Introduction to Entrepreneurship
October 27–28: UBI hosted an event on the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Clinic for faculty and researchers.
November 6–7: USTAN conducted a two-day hybrid course on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Personal Branding for Academics.
November 7, 14, and 21: CEIPIEMONTE offered a 12-hour course on Identifying and Selecting New Foreign Markets to Enhance Company Exportation.
November 10–12: UPNA hosted Sales and Marketing Training.
November 14–15: USTAN offered a two-day online course on Marketing and Innovation for Business Owners.
November 25–26 and 27–28: GOCE Delchev University introduced three new courses for students, entrepreneurs, and non-academic staff.
November 26–28: SSE Riga presented a course titled From Lab to Market
December 8–9: Another course by SSE Riga Marketing Skills for SME
💬 A Word of Thanks
A warm thank you to all participants, partner teams, and our local hosts. Your enthusiasm, insights and commitment are already building a strong foundation for IMPACTWHEEL’s vision.
🌍 About IMPACTWHEEL
IMPACTWHEEL is a European project under the EIT Higher Education Initiative (HEI) that brings together universities, incubators, and innovation leaders to strengthen the role of Higher Education Institutions as catalysts for entrepreneurship, deep tech development, and regional transformation. At its heart is the Value Creation Wheel, a methodology that helps turn knowledge into actionable, high-impact solutions.
Do not forget to follow the project on LinkedIn and Instagram.
2nd Consortium Meeting in Riga
1st – 3rd October 2025
The IMPACTWHEEL consortium held its second meeting with a three-day event hosted by the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga) from 1-3 October 2025. The event brought together project partners from across Europe to align on strategic goals, review ongoing and planned work packages, and co-create innovative approaches for advancing sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation within higher education institutions (HEIs).
The meeting marked a key milestone in setting the operational, academic, and collaborative framework for the project’s next phases. It provided an invaluable opportunity for partners to exchange experiences, strengthen cooperation, and define shared methods for achieving measurable impact across regions and disciplines.
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Day 1
The meeting opened with a warm welcome from Prof. Anders Paalzow, Rector of SSE Riga, who emphasised the importance of academic collaboration and innovation in addressing societal and environmental challenges. This was followed by an inspiring keynote by Prof. Arnis Sauka, Head of the Centre for Sustainable Business, titled “Impact making by bridging academia, media, policy makers and industry.” His presentation highlighted the importance of cross-sectoral partnerships and the role of HEIs in driving sustainable impact.
The morning and afternoon sessions were dedicated to focused discussions on several key work packages:
WP1 – Management and operational issues (UBI): Coordination, reporting, financial planning, and project governance.
WP2 – Consortium achievements, outputs, and challenges (NFE): Updates on partner activities, identification of best practices, and exchange of experiences regarding project implementation.
WP3 – Training and mentoring nuggets (UPNA): Presentation and discussion of the structure and progress of training and mentoring materials, focusing on challenges and next steps for partner contributions.
These sessions fostered productive dialogue, allowing partners to share insights and propose practical solutions to ensure efficient project delivery and high-quality outputs.
Day 2
The second day focused on impact measurement, data collection, and dissemination strategies:
WP6 – Evaluation of HEIs processes and performance (CEIPiemonte & UPNA): Partners explored methodologies for creating Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Innovation Boosting Schemes using the Value Creation Wheel (VCW) Funnel. The discussion centred on identifying key input and output indicators for efficiency.
WP7 – Dissemination and quality management (Ambiom & INOVA+): Review of ongoing communication activities, visibility efforts, and partner responsibilities in maintaining consistent and high-quality outreach.
WP8 – Co-creation of efficiency metrics (INOVA+ & SSE Riga): Joint session dedicated to designing and refining metrics that will guide the project’s internal evaluation and ensure transparency and accountability.
The sessions were highly interactive, combining presentations, partner feedback, and collaborative planning to ensure coherence across all work packages.
Day 3
The final day provided an opportunity for reflection, networking, and inspiration. Partners had the opportunity to exchange ideas on Phase 1 activities and initiatives, discuss the future strategic direction of IMPACTWHEEL, and visit local entrepreneurial ecosystems in Riga. The atmosphere was dynamic and engaging, fostering closer connections between academic, business, and innovation communities.
Through these exchanges, partners identified new opportunities for cross-sectoral collaboration and shared their visions for how the project could support HEIs in becoming active drivers of sustainable economic and social transformation.
The Riga meeting set a strong foundation for the project’s upcoming phases, reinforcing the consortium’s commitment to creating measurable impact through collaboration, innovation, and sustainability.
Do not forget to follow the project on LinkedIn and Instagram.
From Training to Practice – Advancing Innovation with the VCW
July – September 2025
Following the Kick-Off Meeting, the consortium has begun the implementation of Work Package 2 (WP2), which focuses on collecting, classifying, and piloting good practices in entrepreneurship and innovation across partner institutions. But what does this look like in practice?
Each partner received structured data tables with a wide range of ideas and potential filters gathered from stakeholders. To make sense of this input, the consortium applied the Poker Method, a collaborative decision-making technique designed to avoid bias and give equal voice to participants.
Instead of one voice dominating, every perspective is considered. This ensures that what rises to the top reflects a collective judgment, combining both objectivity and inclusiveness.
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Applying the Value Creation Wheel (VCW)
Once the long list of inputs was refined, partners turned to the Value Creation Wheel (VCW), an evidence-based innovation and decision-making methodology.
The VCW works in five flexible steps: first, you define the challenge, then gather ideas and filters, assess and narrow them down, and finally act on the most promising options.
The methodology has already been applied by global organizations such as IBM, Lego, McDonald’s, Nissan, Siemens, and Unilever, as well as governments and non-profits. By introducing VCW into our project, the consortium is drawing on a proven approach that balances innovation with feasibility.
Building the Value Creation Funnel
As the latest stage of activities, each Key Decision Maker (KDM) ranked the filters. Based on these rankings, the consortium prepared the Value Creation Funnel, a matrix matching collected ideas against prioritized filters, followed by a first assessment.
This process involved:
Aggregating the rankings of filters provided by the consortium
Applying these aggregated rankings to the ideas collected for each challenge (low, medium, high)
Building the Value Creation Funnel to create a prioritized list of resources, activities, and practices.
Do not forget to follow the project on LinkedIn.
1st Kick-off Meeting in Cascais Launches IMPACTWHEEL Activities
26th – 28th June 2025
The IMPACTWHEEL project was officially launched during a three-day, in-person kick-off meeting held between 26th and 28th June 2025 at the stunning coastal campus of Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE) in Cascais, Portugal. The event brought together project partners from seven countries—uniting institutions across Europe in a shared vision of empowering higher education to generate real-world impact through innovation and entrepreneurship.
Coordinated by Universidade da Beira Interior, and backed by more than €1.34 million in funding from the EIT Higher Education Initiative, IMPACTWHEEL aims to create a step-change in how entrepreneurial skills, academic knowledge, and regional innovation intersect within and beyond universities.
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Over the course of the kick-off meeting, partners engaged in structured workshops, strategy sessions, and bilateral planning meetings. The agenda was carefully designed to align strategic objectives with practical next steps, ensuring that every institution left with clear roles, responsibilities, and immediate tasks to begin implementation.
Highlights from the event included:
Introduction of the Value Creation Wheel (VCW): Partners explored how the VCW methodology—developed at Nova SBE—will be used across all regions to guide decision-making, innovation design, and the development of entrepreneurial initiatives.
Work Package Planning: Coordinators led deep dives into each work package, from capacity-building and educational programme design to ecosystem engagement and sustainability planning. Deliverables, KPIs, and timelines were reviewed and agreed upon collaboratively.
Stakeholder Engagement Strategies: Partners discussed how to engage students, staff, entrepreneurs, and local innovation ecosystems—ensuring that the project’s impact reaches beyond academia into the wider society.
Community Building: Beyond the formal sessions, the meeting allowed for networking, beach dinners, informal knowledge exchange, and the strengthening of relationships among partner teams—building the foundation for a highly collaborative working culture.
🎯 What Comes Next
With the momentum built in Cascais, the IMPACTWHEEL consortium is now moving forward with the first set of activities, including:
– Developing and piloting entrepreneurial learning pathways tailored to students, researchers, and university staff.
– Organizing co-creation events with local stakeholders to address regional and societal challenges
– Preparing for the next on-site meetings in Riga (October) and Turin (December).
These activities will be rolled out progressively across partner regions, with a strong focus on local relevance, cross-border learning, and measurable impact.
💬 A Word of Thanks
A special thank you goes to Luis Filipe Lages and his team at Nova SBE for their outstanding organization and hospitality, as well as to all project partners for their active participation, insights, and commitment during the kick-off.
🌍 About IMPACTWHEEL
IMPACTWHEEL is a European project under the EIT Higher Education Initiative (HEI) that brings together universities, incubators, and innovation leaders to strengthen the role of Higher Education Institutions as catalysts for entrepreneurship, deep tech development, and regional transformation. At its heart is the Value Creation Wheel, a methodology that helps turn knowledge into actionable, high-impact solutions.
Stay tuned as we roll out the first set of project activities and begin translating strategy into impact!
Do not forget to follow the project on LinkedIn.
