The EUNICE Entrepreneurship Lab (ELab), implemented in the framework of EUNICE European University and coordinated by the University of Catania, Italy has successfully reached its end. The programme ran from March 14 to July 4, 2025, with active participation from students and staff members of the University of the Peloponnese, strengthening the institution’s international orientation.
The ELab programme, structured into three progressive modules, aimed to cultivate critical skills such as problem-solving, innovative thinking, effective communication, and teamwork, while enhancing participants’ ability to generate and transform ideas into projects with entrepreneurial potential, by fostering the integration of knowledge, experience, and cultural perspectives across universities and academic disciplines.
The first phase (Module A) was conducted online from March 14 to June 24, 2025, and included thirteen (13) workshops covering a broad range of topics related to entrepreneurship and innovation. The 34 E-Labbers enrolled were divided into eleven (11) interdisciplinary teams, designed to ensure inclusivity and diversity. Each team matched international students of different genders, academic backgrounds, and home universities, fostering an enriching multicultural environment. This module culminated on June 24, 2025, with a Pitch Day, where the teams' entrepreneurial proposals were evaluated by a competent international committee.
The second phase (Module B) was held on-site at the University of Catania, Italy, from June 30 to July 4, 2025, with students participating in a Tech Hackathon, applying skills and knowledge acquired in the earlier stage of the programme. The Hackathon was implemented in collaboration with Etna Digital Growth and highlighted the transformation of ideas into feasible projects.
Seven (7) students from the University of the Peloponnese participated in the online phase, five (5) of whom also attended the on-site sessions in Italy. At the organizational level, the University of the Peloponnese (UoP) contributed significantly to the programme's content, providing three (3) of the eleven (11) challenges ultimately included in the programme.
Additionally, two (2) faculty members from the Department of Accounting and Finance participated in the online workshops. More specifically, Professor Ilias Makris taught the unit “Business Model Canvas,” and also participated in the on-site phase of the programme, held in Catania, while Associate Professor Vasileios Giannopoulos presented the unit "Lean Methodology" and provided guidance (mentoring) to one of the participating teams.
Stavros Kormas, PhD student at the Department of Nursing, and Leon Vitzilaios, undergraduate student at the Department of Digital & Performing Arts, achieved notable distinction, winning first and third place, respectively, with their teams in the Hackathon. At the same time, PhD student St. Kormas was also third in the individual overall ranking among the 34 E-labbers, earning the opportunity to participate in a funded internship at an organization that collaborates with one of the members of the EUNICE Alliance (Module C). The remaining participants will have the opportunity to participate in the third phase of the program (Module C), which consists of an internship at one of the organizations available on the EUNICE Internship and Research Portal.
The EUNICE ELab proved to be a valuable academic and professional experience, equipping participants not only with essential competencies but also with the opportunity to collaborate in an international and intercultural environment. Finally, participation in the programme is another sign of the Institution's ongoing commitment to strengthening its outreach and to expanding the opportunities offered to all members of the university community.
