From Training to Real Impact: VMU Experience in Phase 1 of B-KINETIC

Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) has completed Phase 1 of the European project B-KINETIC (Bridge Knowledge to Innovation: Entrepreneurial Training into HEI Communities), funded by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) under the EIT Raw Materials programme. 

During this phase, VMU focused on strengthening entrepreneurship and innovation capacity within the university by engaging different target groups – students, academic staff, and non-academic staff – through practical, experience-based learning. 

Throughout the implementation period, more than 100 participants were involved in training and mentoring activities, completing over 70 hours of learning. Rather than focusing on theoretical knowledge alone, the activities were designed to encourage participants to actively apply entrepreneurial thinking in real-life contexts. 

For students, this meant working on business ideas, testing solutions, and learning how to move from an initial concept towards market validation. Several teams progressed beyond the learning environment and began applying their ideas in real conditions, including early revenue-generating activities. 

For academic and non-academic staff, the experience was equally transformative. The training helped participants develop entrepreneurial and project management competences, while also reshaping their understanding of how innovation can be integrated into institutional processes and everyday responsibilities. 

As highlighted by Edvinas Samys, Head of Communication and Technology Transfer Centre at Vytautas Magnus University, “This project created a unique opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills not only among students, but across multiple levels of the university. Researchers gained knowledge and capabilities needed for spin-off creation. At the same time, non-academic staff strengthened their ability to work with researchers and support innovation processes. The project also contributed to developing their project management and entrepreneurship competences.” 

In addition, Jūratė Danėnienė, Senior Commercialization Project Manager at VMU, emphasized the broader institutional impact: “One of the key gaps at the university was the lack of a systematic approach to entrepreneurship development. This project enabled us to engage students, researchers, and non-academic staff simultaneously. It helped shift the university towards a more dynamic environment for creating and testing business ideas. The university is becoming not only a place for academic knowledge, but also a space for entrepreneurship development. B-KINETIC also contributes to the implementation of the university’s long-term strategy by fostering an entrepreneurial culture and supporting the development of innovation processes.” 

The project also strengthened connections between the university and the business environment, allowing participants to better understand real market needs and expectations. This created a strong foundation for continued collaboration between academia and industry. 

Overall, Phase 1 of B-KINETIC demonstrates that targeted, practice-oriented training can generate real impact – not only by developing individual competences, but also by contributing to a broader transformation towards innovation-driven thinking within higher education institutions.