The scholar, the laborer and the entrepreneur

This motto provides MIT, located in Boston, with a clear profile of what is there DNA and it doesn’t only reflect on their own strengths but is also in contrast to especially the world-famous Harvard University. It was the realization that the motto of MIT was also present in the English name of my employer, the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS), where the phrase applied sciences also links theoretical knowledge to a materialization in the real world.

Entrepreneurship at Universities of Applied Science

The clear focus on the application of knowledge and the distinction with academic universities is also something that can be found in the role entrepreneurship plays at universities of applied sciences.

At universities of applied science, the goal is to solve problems with the best available knowledge instead of building a body of new knowledge. The activities of the universities of applied science are much more focused on education instead of research. These both differences become visible in the education of students where practical problems and situations are present throughout their education. They are not asked to research these situations from an academic standpoint but rather come up with evidence-based solutions.

This difference also influences the kind of entrepreneurship that shoots root at the university. Instead of new technologies or knowledge that are in search of a market, which is the main kind of entrepreneurship that can be found at research universities, it is combinations of a significant value that is created by an original organizing method or application of an existing technology that is characteristic of the universities of applied sciences.

This intrinsic difference also has some practical implications. Two most important ones are the fact that because of the emphasis on education and the fact that real life situations are ubiquitously present in the education of universities of applied science that there are substantially more students that come up with a business idea that employees, both relative as in absolute numbers. Second, is the fact that because of the fact that existing knowledge and technologies are being used the time and investments it takes from idea to market is different from startups started at research universities.

Both implications are of influence on the kind of services the university will offer as part of their entrepreneurial support program, different approaches are being asked for example for support, finance opportunities, intellectual property, and facilities.

Finally, it is necessary to say that entrepreneurship which spawns from the educational activities of universities of applied science should not be conflated with small business venturing. Students who study at universities of applied science might run webshops, one-man-firms, and foodtrucks, but when no knowledge at the level at which it is learned at the university is involved it doesn’t qualify as knowledge-driven entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship at the AUAS

Back to the campus of MIT where the position of the entrepreneurship center on campus that was inspiring to me. On the campus tour, you will see the laboratories and workplaces where students work on their projects and come up with new technologies or new applications of technologies. It is when they have such an idea that they walk over campus to the Martin Trust center for entrepreneurship, the clubhouse, where they can get the support from professor Bill Aulet and the entrepreneurs in residence that reside there to begin their startup.

It is exactly this role that the program of entrepreneurship has within the AUAS and on the Amstel Campus. Students, no matter what educational background, that have thought of a creative solution or sustainable innovation can find the support they need, for example, the 10K Pre-incubator program, to develop their idea into a startup by walking over to the Amsterdam Venture Studios on the Amstel Campus.