1. Introduction to the entrepreneurial ecosystem: The role of BUT in the region, the contriBUTe strategy, and the mission of the UEC. Mapping actors: Identifying key stakeholders in the region (JIC, TPB, investors).

2. Knowledge Transfer in practice: From research to market. Forms of transfer: licenses, contract research, start-ups, and spin-offs. Case studies: Analysis of successful BUT spin-offs.

3. Entrepreneurial Mindset & EntreComp: Key competencies (working with ideas, resources, actions). Self-assessment of competencies: Workshop focused on strengths and creative thinking.

4. Support infrastructure: Incubators, accelerators, and business development phases (idea formation vs. scaling). Navigating the ecosystem: Simulation of selecting appropriate support (VUT Start, VUT Maker Space, JIC).

5. Networking & Community: The importance of expert mentors and connecting teams across faculties. Speed Networking: Practical training in approaching a mentor or partner for a project.

6. Future and sustainability: Trends in innovation ecosystems, global reach, and ethics in business. Project presentations: Proposal of a strategy for using the ecosystem for a specific student idea.

Seminars are focused on practical topics presented in lectures.

Professional Knowledge

• Transfer mechanisms: The student will describe the process of transferring technology and knowledge from the university to practice (licensing, contract research, establishing spin-off companies).
• Ecosystem structure: Students will explain the role of individual actors in the innovation ecosystem (incubators, science and technology parks, business angels, VC funds) with a focus on regional links between BUT and JIC.
• Legal and ethical frameworks: Students will define the basics of intellectual property (IP) protection and the ethical aspects of science commercialization.

Professional Competencies

• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Students approach challenges with a proactive attitude, looking for ways to transform theoretical knowledge into social or economic value.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Students are able to work in teams composed of experts from various fields (e.g., engineers and economists) when solving innovative projects.
• Sustainability and impact: When designing business models, students take into account long-term sustainability and positive impact on the ecosystem (in line with the "contriBUTe" vision)

Professional Skills

• Navigating support: Students will be able to identify and select a suitable support program (e.g., within contriBUTe) for a specific phase of project development (pre-seed, seed, scale-up).
• Opportunity validation: Students will be able to apply analytical tools to assess the market potential of an academic idea.
• Networking and pitching: Students will be able to effectively communicate a technology project to industry experts and potential investors (i.e., speak the language of both business and science).