
University Business Cooperation – Innovation and Sustainable Development
The 8th University-Business Forum will take place in Brussels on 24 and 25 October 2019!
The Forum brings together policymakers, representatives from higher education, business and other stakeholders to discuss and debate the role of university-business cooperation for innovation and sustainable development. It provides a unique opportunity for discussion, the sharing of experience, the exchange of good practices, networking and mutual learning. The Forum features plenary and parallel sessions, keynote and panel discussions, pitches and interactive workshops. It will also host an exhibition with a number of projects demonstrating how cooperation between higher education and business works in practice.
Alongside the key theme of the Forum - innovation and sustainable development - topics, such as skills mismatches, lifelong learning, regional and local eco-systems, social innovation, artificial intellligence, entrepreneurial individuals and organisations, and institutional change will be discussed. The 2019 University-Business Forum is a place for learning, discussion and engagement in new and concrete initiatives.
Event photos
Programme
Day 1: 24 October 2019
Registration
Opening session
Moderator: Christophe Robeet , Journalist
Opening speeches
Tibor Navracsics , European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport
Sabine Verheyen , Member of the European Parliament, Chair of CULT Committee (Plenary Session in Strasbourg – Video statement)
Keynote speeches
Matías Rodríguez Inciarte , President of Santander Universities
Borhene Chakroun , Director of Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems division, UNESCO
Coffee break - Knowledge Alliance pitches
Macarena Cuenca and Antonia Silvaggi
Rainer Svacinka
FooD-STA - FooD-Studies and Training Alliance
Panel Discussion - Partnerships for sustainable development: Challenges and opportunities
Panel members
Taru Pilvi , Innovation Director, Tampere University
Pascal Métivier , Senior Executive Vice-President, Science and Technology Director, Solvay Group
Theun Baller , Dean, Technical University of Delft
Monika Skadborg , Member of Executive Committee, European Student Union
Digital Education Hackathon - Global Award Finalists
Themis Christophidou , Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture
Lunch - Knowledge Alliance pitches
Greet Langie
Francisco Sousa Barros
Celia Hadjichristodoulou
Elias Iosif
Muriel Algayres
Anneli Kakko
Parallel sessions
Block 1: Tackling the skills mismatch
Room 201 AB
Addressing Europe’s skills mismatch requires action. More students need to be attracted to fields of study that prepare them for jobs where shortages exist or are emerging. In many EU Member States, there is unmet demand for graduates in science, technology, engineering, (arts) and maths - STE(A)M) fields -, as well as medical professions and teaching. Second, all students in higher education, irrespective of their field of study, need to acquire relevant transversal skills and key competences that will allow them to succeed. In particular, digital and entrepreneurial competences are becoming increasingly important.
Rapporteur: Gigliola Paviotti
WORKSHOP 1.1
Attracting students to disciplines that prepare them for jobs where shortages exist or are emerging
Many Member States still face significant youth unemployment rates. However, at the same time, countries face shortages for graduates in science, technology, engineering, (arts) and maths - STE(A)M) fields -, as well as in the medical professions and teaching. This workshop will present a number of initiatives aiming to address these challenges.
Moderator: Vanessa Debiais-Sainton , Head of Unit B1 - Higher Education, DG EAC
Speakers:
Geert Asselsberg , EU STEM Coalition Network
Rima Dapous , Education Director, EIT KIC Raw Materials
Tamás Kerszanski , Obuda University, Hungarian STEM Platform
Jan Lundell , Chairman of the Board, Luma Centre Finland
WORKSHOP 1.2
Providing learning experiences that enable students to acquire the right mix of knowledge, skills and competences.
This workshop session will look at different examples of how to bridge the gap between higher education and the labour market, with a focus on developing approaches that develop the skills and competences students will require in their future private and professional lives.
Moderator: Julie Fionda , Deputy Head of Unit E2 - Skills and Qualification, DG EMPL, European Commission
Speakers:
Christoph Meng , University of Maastricht, coordinator of Eurograduate consortium
Barbara Gabriel , Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro
Gregor Cerinsek , University of Ljubljana and Sara Arko , Metronik, Slovenia, Knowledge Alliance project: 'People-centred developed approaches in practical and learning environments'
Inese Podgaiska , Secretary-General, Association of Nordic Engineers, ANE
Block 2: Supporting the workforce to adapt to the future
Room 211-212
This stream will discuss how higher education institutions and businesses can work together to make lifelong learning a reality. New trends in the labour market and new technologies will continue to increase demands on higher education graduates in coming decades. Individuals must constantly upgrade their knowledge, skills and competences, particularly in light of demographic developments in Europe.
Rapporteur: Victoria Galan Muros
WORKSHOP 2.1
Preparing and supporting students and graduates as future lifelong learners.
This workshop will look at strategies and concrete examples of how to support students and graduates to become lifelong learners.
Speakers:
Brikena Xhomaqi , Director, Lifelong Learning Platform, active in the field of civil society
Dieter Dohmen , Managing Director, FiBS Research Institute for the Economics of Education and Social Affairs
Hanne Smidt , Senior Advisor, European University Association
Henrik Runnemalm , Director, Research and Technology, GKN Aerospace Engine Systems, Sweden
WORKSHOP 2.2
Supporting up-skilling and re-skilling.
This workshop will present and discuss concrete examples of how higher education and business can support up-skilling and re-skilling of both staff and potential job-seekers.
Moderator: Martina Ni Cheallaigh ,DG EMPL Unit E3 - VET, Apprenticeships and Adult Learning, European Commission
Speakers:
Eva Cendon , Fernuniversität Hagen and Vice-President, European Universities Continuing Education Network (EUCEN)
Chad Pasha , Coursera
Bert Jehoul , Representative, Open Recognition, Belgium, and Dries Vanacker , Artevelde University and Open Recognition Belgium
Catherine Guyonnet , Director, Ocapiat, France, and George Ubachs , Managing Director, European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU)
Block 3: Building local and regional eco-systems
Room 213-215
This block will present and discuss how higher education institutions, businesses and other stakeholders can work together to support economic and social innovation at local or regional level. The session will also explore how higher education institutions and local actors can collaborate to design and implement study programmes that ensure graduates acquire the skills and competences needed at both the local and regional level.
Rapporteur: Eskarne Arregui Pabollet
WORKSHOP 3.1
Supporting social innovation.
This workshop will present and discuss examples of collaboration between higher education institutions, business and other stakeholders in support of social innovation. It will also look at strategies and concrete examples of how to support students and graduates to become lifelong learners.
Moderator: Ulla Engelmann , Head of Unit F2 - Clusters, Social Economy and Entrepreneurship, DG GROW, European Commission
Speakers:
Kristina Notz, CEO, Social Entrepreneurship Academy, Munich, Germany
Mark Majewsky Anderson , Director, Research and Innovation, Glasgow Caledonian University
Javier Finez , Director, Business Innovation Brokers - RealiZe
Tomasz Szymczak , CEO of Gdańsk Entrepreneurial Foundation, Poland
Ibrahim Ouassari , Founder at the start-up incubator 'Molengeek', Belgium
WORKSHOP 3.2
Higher education for Smart Specialisation.
In this workshop, participants will learn about collaboration between higher education institutions and local actors in support of local and regional eco-systems – particularly with regard to the design and implementation of Smart Specialisation Strategies.
Moderator: Marek Przeor , DG REGIO Unit G1- Smart and Sustainable Growth, European Commission
Speakers:
Maria Farano , Fondazione Cluster Marche, Italy
Anne Delouis , Vice-President, University of Orléans, expert in Smart Specialisation Strategies, Val de Loire Region, France
Ramojus Reimeris , Head of Innovation and Policy Analysis Unit, MOSTA, Lithuania
Adolfo Morais Ezquerro , Deputy Minister for Higher Education and Research, Basque Government, Spain
Block 4: Working together to address societal challenges and build societal trust
Room 214-216
This session will discuss projects involving higher education institutions, business, research community and social organisations to address societal challenges and issues, and how these activities can enrich the learning experience of students. It will also discuss how higher education and business can cooperate to overcome challenges in areas, such as Artificial Intelligence, big data and automisation.
Rapporteur: Keith Hermann
WORKSHOP 4.1
A driver to implement the Sustainable Development Goals.
This workshop will discuss collaborations between higher education, business and research in support of the implementation of the United Nations' (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Moderator: Sieglinde Gruber , Head of Unit C4 - Healthy Oceans and Seas, DG RTD, European Commission
Speakers:
Angelo Riccaboni , University of Siena, Coordinator of PRIMA project, Italy
Line Gry Knudsen , Education Director, Climate KIC
Stijn Donders , Research Project Manager, Siemens Industry Software NV, Belgium
Åshild Aarø , Head of Startup Lab and coordinator of course on Sustainable Innovation, University of Bergen, Norway
Artificial intelligence and automisation – opportunities and threats.
This workshop will discuss the opportunities and threats for higher education, triggered by the developments and use of artificial intelligence and automisation.
Moderator: Fabrizia Benini , Head of Unit F4 - Digital Economy and Skills, DG CNECT, European Commission
Speakers:
Colin de la Higuera , Nantes University, France
Markus Lippus , Co-founder, MindTitan, Estonia
Ann Nowé, Vrije University of Brussels, Belgium
Ilkka Tuomi , Meaning Processing Ltd., Finland
Block 5: Developing an entrepreneurial culture
Room 204
Europe needs entrepreneurial graduates. This session will investigate the development of entrepreneurial attitudes at the organisational and individual level.
Rapporteur: Maria Sobron Bernal
WORKSHOP 5.1
Developing entrepreneurial organisations.
This workshop will discuss initiatives to support innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education institutions and systems.
Moderator: Begoña Arano , Head of Unit C1 - Innovation and EIT, DG EAC, European Commission
Speakers:
Rebecca Allinson and Zsuzsa Javorka , Technopolis, HEInnovate - supporting institutional change
Slavica Singer , J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia
Stefan Drews , Ministry of Economics, Exist Initiative, Germany
Katarina Pramatari, Athens University of Economics and Business, Greece
WORKSHOP 5.2
Nurturing entrepreneurial individuals.
This session will discuss examples of higher education institutions’ capacity to provide supportive learning environments -, thereby, allowing professors, researchers and students to develop entrepreneurial skills and mindsets.
Moderator: Koen Jonkers , Deputy Head of Unit - Knowledge for Finance, Innovation and Growth, DG JRC, European Commission
Speakers:
Fátima São Simão , UPTEC, Science and technology park of the University of Porto, Portugal
Paula Caroll , New Frontiers Programme, Programme Manager, Enterprise Ireland
Ursula Mühle , Director of Education, EIT Health, KIC
Thomas Lans , Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Gabi Kaffka , Ecorys, and Christina Weber , SCE GmbH, EPIC - Assessing the Impact of Entrepreneurship Education
Networking reception in exhibition area
Welcoming remarks:
Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva , Director for Innovation, International Cooperation and Sport, DG EAC, European Commission
Pitches by Knowledge Alliances
Amanda Roberts
Robert Wagenaar and Arno Meerman
Gerard Danford
IoTLabs - Internet of Things Rapid-Proto Labs
Musical entertainment: Jaaad Quintet (by students of the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel)

- Alexandre Jadoul: guitar
- Thomas Latouche: saxophone
- Arthur Possing: piano
- José Buc Chavez: bass
- Maxime Aznar: drums
Day 2: 25 October 2019
Presentation and discussion of conclusions of parallel sessions
Moderator: Christophe Robeet, Journalist
Gigliola Paviotti, rapporteur for block 1 workshops: 'University-Business Cooperation - Tackling the skills mismatch'
Victoria Galan Muros, rapporteur for block 2 workshops: 'University-Business Cooperation - Supporting the workforce to adapt to the future'
Eskarne Arregui Pabollet, rapporteur for block 3 workshops: 'University-Business Cooperation - Building local and regional eco-systems'
Keith Hermann, rapporteur for block 4 workshops: 'University-Business Cooperation - Working together to address societal challenges and building societal trust'
Maria Sobron Bernal rapporteur for block 5 workshops: 'University-Business Cooperation - Developing an entrepreneurial culture'
Sustainability in action - start-ups engaged in sustainable development
Speakers:
Elzelinde van Doleweerd and Vita Broeken, Upprinting Food, The Netherlands,
Atanas Enev and Vanya Milanova, 'BIOMYC', Bulgaria
Paola Pittia, Askfood - creation of a new 'educational' eco-system for the innovation and sustainability of the food system
Martin A. Petersen, BUILDS - Building Urban Intelligent Living Design Solutions
Vijoleta Sulciene, KnoWood - Sustainable Mid-Rise and Tall Wooden Buildings
Coffee break - Knowledge Alliance pitches
Demetrios Sampson
Dina Pereira
Keynote address 'Looking Ahead'
Tome Antičić, State Secretary for Science and EU Funds, Republic of Croatia (incoming EU Presidency)
Panel discussion
Panel members
Ana Trbović, Member of the EIT Governing Board
Markku Markkula, First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR)
Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, Rector, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Alexandre Affre, Director for Industrial Affairs, BUSINESSEUROPE
Natacha Lopes, Vice-President, JADE - European Confederation of Junior Enterprises
Closing remarks
Themis Christophidou, Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission
Lunch and conference end
In addition to the many speakers attending the event, we've also invited Art students from across Europe to attend to discuss their work and create visuals:
- Adriana Yankova, National Academy of Arts (Bulgaria)
- Alexandre Grave, ESA Saint-Luc Liège (Belgium)
- Alice Olausson, Ecole Supérieure des Beaux-Arts Montpellier Contemporain (France)
- Bozhidar Kolev, National Academy of Arts (Bulgaria)
- Camilla Fassina, Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia (Italy)
- Clarisse Thomas, ESA Saint-Luc Liège (Belgium)
- Femija Miljković, National Academy of Arts (Bulgaria)
- Fionn van der Noll, CIT Crawford College of Art & Design (Ireland)
- Kenza Merouchi, Ecole supérieure d'art d'Aix-en-Provence (France)
- Michela Tabaton-Osbourne, Accademia Belle Arti Carrara (Italy)
- Uygar Sahinoglu, Institut Supérieur des Beaux-Arts de Besançon (ISBA) (France)
- Wei Bingxi, École Supérieur D’art du Nord-Pas-de-Calais /Dunkerque (France)
Speakers
Plenary speakers (15)

Tibor Navracsics
European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.
Biography

Themis Christophidou
Director-General, DG EAC, European Commission.
Biography

Alexandre Affre
Director, Industrial Affairs, Entrepreneurship & SMES - BusinessEurope
Biography

Ana Trbović
Member of the EIT Governing Board
Biography

Borhene Chakroun
Director of Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems division, UNESCO
Biography

Markku Markkula
First Vice-President, European Committee of the Regions
Biography

Matías Rodríguez Inciarte
President of Santander Universities
Biography

Monika Skadborg
Executive Committee, European Students’ Union
Biography

Natacha Lopes
Vice President, Junior Enterprises Europe
Biography

Pascal Métivier
Senior Executive Vice President
Biography

Sabine Verheyen
Member of the European Parliament and Chairwoman of the European Parliament’s Culture and Education Committee
Biography

Snjezana Prijic-Samarzija
Rector, University of Rijeka
Biography

Taru Pilvi
Innovation Director, Tampere University
Biography

Theun Baller
Dean of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering at TU Delf
Biography

Tome Antičić
State Secretary for Science and EU Funds, Republic of Croatia
Biography
Speakers (64)

Geert Asselbergs
Coordinator, EU STEM Coalition
Biography

Angelo Riccaboni
Professor of management control systems, Richard Goodwin School of Economics and Management of the University of Siena.
Biography

Adolfo Morais Ezquerro
Vice-Minister for Universities and Research at the Basque Government
Biography

Anne Delouis
Associate Professor in Social Anthropology
Biography

Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva
Director for Innovation, International Cooperation and Sport, DG EAC
Biography

Åshild Aarø
Coordinator, Sustainable Innovation - University of Bergen
Biography

Atanas Enev
Architect & designer, industrial-scale projects
Biography

Bárbara Coelho Gabriel
Deputy-Director for Internationalisation and Cooperation, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Biography

Begoña Arano
Head of Unit for 'Innovation and EIT'
Biography

Bert Jehoul
Digital Transformation Office, Federal Belgian Government, Board member of Open Knowledge Belgium
Biography

Brikena Xhomaqi
Director of the Lifelong Learning Platform
Biography

Catherine Guyonnet
Director, innovation, business services and assets department, OCAPIAT
Biography

Chad Pasha
Senior Advisor for Global Government Partnerships, Coursera
Biography

Christina Weber
Departmental Head of Research, Munich University of Applied Sciences
Biography

Christoph Meng
Coordinating Researcher, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA)
Biography

Colin de la Higuera
Professor In Computer Science, Nantes University
Biography

Denis Crowley
Head of Unit, DG EAC, European Commission
Biography

Dieter Dohmen
Managing Director, FiBS
Biography

Dries Vanacker
Educational development and digital learning policy, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences
Biography

Elzelinde van Doleweerd
Upprinting Food
Biography

Eskarne Arregui Pabollet
Scientific Officer, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Biography

Eva Cendon
Professor for University, Continuing Education, Teaching and Learning - FernUniversität (Hagen, Germany)
Biography

Fátima São Simão
Head of business development for the arts - UPTEC
Biography

Gabi Kaffka
Ecorys
Biography

George Ubachs
Managing Director, European Association of Distance Teaching Universities
Biography

Gigliola Paviotti
Researcher, University of Macerata, Italy
Biography

Gregor Cerinsek
Lead project manager, Institute for Innovation and Development (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia)
Biography

Hanne Smidt
Senior Adviser, European University Association
Biography

Henrik Runnemalm
Director of Research and Technology, GKN Aerospace Engine Systems
Biography

Ibrahim Ouassari
Founder
Biography

Ilkka Tuomi
Chief Scientist, Meaning Processing
Biography

Inese Podgaiska
Secretary General, Association of Nordic Engineers, ANE
Biography

Jan Lundell
Professor in chemistry, University of Jyvaskyla
Biography

Javier Finez
Director, Business Innovation Brokers - RealiZe
Biography

Julie Fionda
Julie Fionda, Deputy Head of Unit “Skills and Qualifications", DG EMPL
Biography

Keith Hermann
Director of Higher Education Research, University of Surrey
Biography

Koen Jonkers
Deputy Head of Unit 'Knowledge for Finance, Innovation and Growth'
Biography

Kristina Notz
Executive Director, Social Entrepreneurship Akademie
Biography

Line Gry Knudsen
Education Director, Climate KIC
Biography

Maria Farano
Interreg MED Greenomed
Biography

Maria Sobron Bernal
Policy Analyst, OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Cities and Regions
Biography

Mark Majewsky Anderson
Director of Research and Innovation, Glasgow Caledonian University
Biography

Markus Lippus
Founder, Data Science Lead - MindTitan
Biography

Martin A. Petersen
Innovator in green European start-ups
Biography

Paola Pittia
Full Professor of Food Science and Technology, University of Teramo
Biography

Paula Carroll
New Frontiers National Programme Manager - Enterprise Ireland
Biography

Ramojus Reimeris
Acting director, Head of Innovation policy analysis Government strategic analysis center STRATA, Lithuania
Biography

Rebecca Allinson
Managing Partner, Technopolis Group
Biography

Rima Dapous
Director of Education, EIT RawMaterials
Biography

Sara Arko
Researcher, Metronik
Biography

Sieglinde Gruber
Head of the Healthy Oceans and Seas Unit, Directorate General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), European Commission
Biography

Slavica Singer
Professor emeritus, J.J. Strossmayer University, Croatia
Biography

Stefan Drews
German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi)
Biography

Stijn Donders
R&D project manager in 3D Simulation, Siemens
Biography

Tamás Kersánszki
Innovation director, Óbuda University
Biography

Thomas Lans
Assistant professor, Education and Learning Sciences - Wageningen University
Biography

Tomasz Szymczak
President & CEO, Gdansk Entrepreneurial Foundation
Biography

Ulla Engelmann
Head of Unit, Advanced Technologies, Clusters, and Social Economy DG GROW, European Commission
Biography

Ursula Mühle
Director of Education, EIT Health
Biography

Vanessa Debiais-Sainton
Head of Unit B1 - Higher education policies and programmes, DG EAC.
Biography

Vanya Milanova
'BIOMYC', Bulgaria
Biography

Victoria Galan-Muros
Research director, Global Institute on Innovation Districts (GIID),
Biography

Vijoleta Šulcienė
Architect, project coordinator, VIA University College, Denmark
Biography

Zsuzsa Jávorka
Principal consultant with Technopolis Group
Biography
Event photos
Practical information
Date
24-25 October 2019Location
Mont Des Arts, 1000, Brussels, BelgiumContact
See our Twitter feed: #UBFORUMThe conference venue
SQUARE - Brussels Convention Centre
Glass Entrance, Mont des Arts/Kunstberg
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
SQUARE - Brussels Convention Centre
How to get there
SQUARE very conveniently sits next door to the main transport hub of Brussels, the Central Station, where train, tram, metro and bus all meet.