​​​​​​​Co-Creating the Future of EUTOPIA: Intrapreneurship Programme Kicks Off in Gothenburg 

Between June 3–4 2025, 33 prospective intrapreneurs from nearly all EUTOPIA partner universities gathered in Gothenburg for the official launch of the EUTOPIA Design Intrapreneurship Programme. Over two intensive days, 13 teams and kicked off their journey to develop innovative solutions aimed at making EUTOPIA more adapted and beneficial for the people actually involved in it.

One thing that sets this programme apart is its cross-functional collaboration model, bringing together students, academics, and administrative staff. Each team benefits from a diversity of perspectives—bridging user needs with operational feasibility—to co-design solutions that can be implemented within university operations.

“Having students in the room added a welcome air of ‘anything is possible,’” said one administrative staff participant. “It was also valuable to receive feedback from seasoned academic leaders on the feasibility of our ideas.”

Tackling challenges through two innovation tracks

The programme follows two tracks. The first focuses on addressing three challenges previously identified as some of the main current challenges of the alliance, based partly on testimonials from both central and peripheral staff at the partner universities: 

1. Overcoming barriers in joint education/research programmes.
2. Transform EUTOPIA and its member universities into more student-centered organisations.
3. Foster greater collaboration and impact by increasing connectivity and improving communication.

The second track—the Open Challenge—called for original ideas that address relevant, self-experienced, issues within EUTOPIA, potentially offering solutions applicable across the entire network.

Ideas as diverse as EUTOPIA itself

The programme received 71 applications, with actual participation estimated at 85–90 individuals due to team submissions. Many of the proposed ideas leverage digital tools and AI, ranging from matchmaking platforms to solutions tackling inclusion, accessibility, and collaboration challenges. Others focused on service models, frameworks, networks, and toolkits.

From insight to action

During the first two days, teams focused on understanding their chosen challenges more deeply and identifying user needs and behaviours. The ultimate goal: to design relevant, user-centered, and impactful solutions.

Throughout June, participants will engage in a series of hands-on workshops aimed at refining their ideas into prototypes that can be tested in real settings. These proofs of concept will help determine whether their solutions are viable, scalable, and capable of improving university operations and outcomes.

A pilot for bottom-up innovation

The programme is part of the MORE project, acting as a pilot for how universities can enable bottom-up innovation by involving their entire communities in change-making.
“This programme was appealing because it offers a chance to not just share ideas but to see them realised within EUTOPIA,” one participant noted.

By engaging those not traditionally involved in the alliance’s strategic planning, the initiative aims to increase both grassroots engagement and the institutional capacity for innovation across the EUTOPIA network.
 
Pictures: Camilla Pettersson