What is Start’Ship?
START’ship is an ERASMUS+ project which aims to promote, develop, and strengthen the entrepreneurial skills of higher education students through practical activities and an interactive training programme.
The overall objectives of the project are as follows:
1. Raise awareness of entrepreneurial and start-up careers.
2. Develop and strengthen students’ entrepreneurial skills through practical learning experiences.
3. Provide new and innovative methods of learning and teaching entrepreneurial skills.
4. Promote inclusiveness and strengthen the diversity element of entrepreneurship.
5. Support the creation of businesses in the field of health, nutrition and longevity.
This project includes six diverse partners from France, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Belgium and Portugal.
The partners include Eurasante (France), WestBIC (Ireland), Universita Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (Italy), Commercialization Reactor (Latvia), Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool Antwerpen (Belgium) and Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal).
Project start date: 1/09/23
Project end date: 31/08/25
Total Project budget: €400,000
This project is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme.
If you are interested in getting involved in this project, please contact us at startship@eurasante.com or visit our website: https://www.startship-project.eu/
Kick-Off START’ship partner meeting in Lille, France
The START’ship kick-off partner meeting took place in Lille on 19th and 20th October 2023.
This meeting was hosted by the lead partners, Eurasanté at their offices in Loos, Lille. This was an opportunity for partners to meet one another in person and also an opportunity for each partner to present their own organisations and to outline their role in the project and specifically the detail in the Work Packages for which they are responsible. The partners took part in a tour of Eurasante’s Innovation Park during the visit.
Second START’ship partner meeting in Coimbra, Portugal
The second START’ship project partner in-person meeting took place in Coimbra, Portugal on 23rd and 24th May 2024.
Partners discussed many issues including the recent student hackathons and the forthcoming student entrepreneurial training. They also visited the University of Coimbra Unesco Historical Site, including the Joanine Library with its rich baroque decor and the 18th century Botanical Garden.
START’ship Program – Successful Completion of the First Phase
(Naples, May 15, 2024)
START’ship Program – Successful Completion of the First Phase
Naples, Italy – The START’ship program, aimed at stimulating innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration between students and the business world, has successfully completed its first phase.
This phase included pre-hackathon training activities and the organization of a “StudentsXStudents Entrepreneurs” Hackathon, offering participants unique opportunities for learning and professional growth.
Participants of the First Phase:
- 20 students
- 6 experts
- 6 mentors
- 1 incubator
- 3 companies
- 1 knowledge and innovation community
Pre-Hackathon Training:
The pre-hackathon training featured Creativity Workshops and Business Development sessions. The Creativity Workshops developed both technical and soft skills such as time management, teamwork, effective communication, and problem-solving.
Workshop Dates and Themes:
- April 3, 2024: Creativity Workshop for brainstorming and creative thinking.
- April 29, 2024: Health Sector Challenges, including personalized medicine, therapeutic education, artificial intelligence, and health and wellness prevention.
- May 6, 2024: Nutrition Sector Challenges, including nutritional transition, digitalization of the food system, personalized nutrition, and alternative proteins.
- May 8, 2024: Longevity Sector Challenges, including dependency funding, adaptation of homes and urban spaces, updating home care professions, and isolation and loneliness.
Business Development Sessions:
The business development sessions included participation from key ecosystem managers, facilitating idea exchange and stimulating student creativity. Key players involved included:
- Campania New Steel: A certified incubator supporting startups by offering a fertile ecosystem and facilitating market and fund access.
- Sobereye: A company specializing in image processing and artificial intelligence algorithms for measuring pupillary metrics and eye movements using low-cost consumer devices.
- Kelyon: A certified provider in the Digital Health market, offering integrated solutions at every stage of the patient journey to improve healthcare effectiveness.
- Buzzoole: An influencer marketing platform that uses proprietary technology to measure the effectiveness of marketing investments.
Hackathon:
On May 12 and 13, 2024, the Department of Economics, Management, Institutions of the University of Naples Federico II hosted the Students X Students Entrepreneurs (SxSE) Hackathon. Students, divided into groups, worked intensively on their innovative ideas, supported by expert faculty with constant mentoring. The first day featured group work and mentoring sessions, while the second day saw presentations of the ideas before a panel of experts and corporate representatives.
Hackathon Jury:
- Chiara Maiorino (Ecosystem Lead for Italy @EIT Health InnoStars)
- Marco Valerio Izzo (CFO @Buzzoole)
- Stefano Tagliaferri (Technical Director @Kelyon)
- Academics
Make sure you follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to stay up to date on the Start’Ship project
Presented Projects:
- Carefinder: A web platform to connect healthcare workers with those in need of care.
- MedicalCareTouch: A web service and app to assist people with chronic illnesses and disabilities.
- LuminEyez: Software integrated into virtual reality for personalized visual therapies.
- Intellibin: Improvement of waste management in the medical field.
- Dopchain (winning team): Promoting fair and safe sports through technological innovation.
The first phase of the program provided students with a comprehensive educational experience, combining theory and practice, and fostering personal and professional growth. The success of this phase demonstrates the importance of an integrated and collaborative educational approach, preparing young people to confidently face the working world.
The START’ship program is an Erasmus+ project involving six partners: DEMI of the University of Naples Federico II (Italy), Eurasanté (France), WestBIC (Ireland), FNG Invest (Latvia), Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool Antwerpen (Belgium), and Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal).
