Mariupol State University will increase its entrepreneurial potential

The project 'Boosting Innovative and Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship of HEIs' (BIKE-HEI) has officially started.

On 18-20.06.2025 University of Alicante hosted the kick-off meeting of the BIKE-HEI project. At the kick-off meeting Mariupol State University was represented by Dr. Irina Sikorska, Director of the Center for International Education and Dr. Inna Arakelova, Associate professor of the Department of Marketing and Tourism.

Traditionally, the kick-off meeting serves as a platform enabling the BIKE-HEI project  managers of each partner institution to gain a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities. During the meeting each WP leader presented their WP’s objectives, tasks, deliverables, milestones, and KPIs. Representatives of the universities also presented an action plan for the first stage of BIKE-HEI implementation, which will last until the end of 2025.

Carolina Madeleine, OGPI Director and Noelia López del Castillo, Project Coordinator OGPI, welcomed the project partners on behalf of University of Alicante, the project coordinating institution.

All activities will be aimed at enhancing the innovation and entrepreneurial potential of the higher education institutions participating in the project,  among which: University of Alicante (Spain), Universität des Saarlandes(Germany),University of Primorska (Slovenia),Mariupol State University (Ukraine).

Notably, the project consortium comprises not only the higher education institutions but also the organizations from the non-academic sector whose activities are related to the innovation and entrepreneurship: META Group (Italy), Association of Balkan Eco-Innovation (Serbia), CESIE ETS - European Centre of Studies and Initiatives, Fundación Parque Científico de Alicante de la Comunitat Valenciana (Spain), EIT Raw Materials (Germany).

For Mariupol State University the BIKE-HEI project’s implementation opens fortunate perspectives in regards of strengthening the university’s’ role in the regional innovation ecosystem, and improving business opportunities for innovative and knowledge-based entrepreneurs, and addressing the societal challenges.