Recently, the first introductory meeting (in a mixed format) was held at the Project and Educational Center “Agents of Change” of the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University within the framework of the cooperation launched the day before with the international consortium of European universities EDUC (https://educalliance.eu/) in one of the areas aimed at the development of entrepreneurship and innovation in universities.

The meeting was initiated by the University of Potsdam (Germany), which is the main coordinator of the European Digital UniverCity (EDUC) alliance. The organizer was the central scientific institution for startups, innovations and knowledge and technology transfer of the University of Potsdam “Potsdam Transfer (Startup Service)”.

The Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University was represented by the head of the research part of the university, associate professor of the Department of Management and Business Administration Iryna Hryhoruk; director of the Project and Educational Center “Agents of Change”, associate professor of the Department of Finance Svitlana Kropelnytska; Specialist of the Design and Educational Center “Agents of Change”, Associate Professor of the Department of Finance Tetyana Mygovich; Director of the “Science Park of PNU” Roman Bubna; Head, Professor of the Department of Solid State Physics and Chemistry, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Coordinator of the National Research Center “Nanotechnologies, Modern Materials and Advanced Industrial Production” Lyubomyr Nykyruy; Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Chemistry Serhiy Kurta. The Potsdam University team was represented online by the Head of Start-up Service Johannes Zier, Manager of International Partnerships Alisa Fluhrer, Manager of Entrepreneurship Training Anita Knappe, International Startup Advisor Till Wintgen, Project Manager of International Startup Service & International Startup Advisor Till Thomas Meiling.

At the beginning of the meeting, the director of the Project and Educational Center “Agents of Change”, associate professor of the Department of Finance Svitlana Kropelnytska addressed the audience with a welcoming speech and introduced the participants from the Ukrainian side.

The European colleagues introduced themselves and spoke about their expectations from cooperation with PNU. The scientific and innovative activities of the Precarpathian National University and the work in the direction of supporting student startups and entrepreneurship were presented online by the head of the research part of the university, associate professor of the Department of Management and Business Administration Iryna Hryhoruk. She also told the participants of the meeting about the successfully implemented GCIP Regional Accelerator for Innovations, Technologies and Startups in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, and noted the student projects of social entrepreneurship and tourism startups, developed and implemented with the participation and coordination of the Project and Educational Center “Agents of Change”.

International Partnerships Manager at Potsdam University, Alice Fluerer, said that the Potsdam Transfer structural unit is the center for entrepreneurship, innovation, knowledge and technology transfer at Potsdam University. It is engaged in international partnerships, entrepreneurship training, and also provides international support for startups, including training for international founders and ongoing consulting. In addition, she listed possible grant programs for the development of startups and entrepreneurship, in which Ukrainian participants can also participate.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Carbon13 program – a partner of Potsdam University, which offers investments for startup ideas that help reduce CO₂ emissions – in particular, Simon Dierks, Head of EU Marketing, and Stefanie Reichelt, Community Director at EU. Simon Dierks spoke about Carbon13’s activities and the programs supported and funded by this organization.

His thoughts on further cooperation with the University of Potsdam were expressed by the head, professor of the Department of Physics and Chemistry of Solid State, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, coordinator of the National Research Center “Nanotechnologies, Modern Materials and Advanced Industrial Production” Lyubomyr Nykyruy.

Also, during the online inclusion, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Chemistry Serhiy Kurta presented his work in the direction of innovations in the field of chemistry and entrepreneurship.

All participants of the meeting noted that they work in similar areas and expressed hope for further cooperation for the development of innovations, startups and entrepreneurship within the framework of the cooperation of the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University and the University of Potsdam with the international consortium of European universities EDUC.