The idea of an innovative university is no longer just an institutional slogan. Against a backdrop of rapid technological change and new demands from the market and society, institutions of higher education (IHE) are challenged to go beyond one-off projects and inspirational speeches.

Becoming a true hub of innovation requires reviewing governance structures, strengthening the entrepreneurial culture, diversifying funding sources, and establishing strategic partnerships that lead to tangible results.

Jeferson Vinhas, CEO of the Integrated University Center (Campo Mourão, Paraná), explains that the concept of the entrepreneurial university formed the basis of his doctoral dissertation, which he wrote at PUC-SP and completed during a study period at Leuphana University in Germany, where he defended his thesis on the internationalization of the entrepreneurial university.

He lists five key elements necessary to effectively characterize an entrepreneurial university. The first is what he calls the “expanded periphery of development”: “Development cannot take place solely within the university. There must be a genuine concern for transforming the community and its surroundings.”

The second point is strengthening the leadership team. “An entrepreneurial university is shaped by the tone set at the top. Leadership needs to understand that this is a strategic guideline,” he says.

The third aspect is an integrated entrepreneurial culture. “It is essential that an entrepreneurial mindset be embedded throughout the entire academic community,” he explains.

The fourth element is the diversification of the funding base. “An entrepreneurial university does not rely exclusively on tuition. It establishes partnerships with companies, invests in its own innovation ecosystem, and develops new sources of revenue.”

Finally, Vinhas highlights the role of a dynamic academic center. “It’s not enough to just talk about innovation. We need to create real opportunities for students to take initiative, test ideas, participate in projects, and see themselves as key players within this ecosystem,” he concludes.

Jeferson Vinhas will be one of the speakers at the CIEE Ahead Forum – Higher Education. Photo: Courtesy of the organizers.

In practice, this could mean a radical rethinking of the relationship between students and institutions. “The question I leave you with is: are we preparing our students merely to be employees, or are we equipping them with enough skills to choose between being an employee, an entrepreneur, or a business owner?” he asks.

At the Integrated University Center, he cites as an example the existence of a Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) fund, which allocates a portion of the institution's revenue to invest in startups founded by students, faculty, and staff.

“A student may enter as a consumer of a course and leave as a partner of the university. When we invest in a fast-track idea within our ecosystem, we’re saying that we believe in that project and that student,” concludes Vinhas.

University-Industry Partnership

While, on the one hand, transformation takes place within the university, on the other, it is realized through connections with the market. According to Marcelo Moura, director of Hotmilk (PUCPR’s innovation ecosystem), the most effective partnership models are those that combine strategy, execution, and continuity. “The real impact occurs when the partnership is designed as a journey, rather than as an isolated action,” he says.

Among the most effective models, he highlights applied research and development partnerships, in which companies co-create solutions with researchers and laboratories; structured open innovation programs, featuring proof-of-concept and joint validation; and corporate–startup engagement initiatives, in which the university acts as a curator and facilitator of the relationship between corporations and startups.

Another key area is leadership development. “Without well-prepared leaders, innovation cannot be sustained. Strategic training bridges the gap between academic knowledge and real-world business decisions,” says Moura.

Marcelo Moura highlights the partnership between universities and companies. Photo: Courtesy.

He also emphasizes the importance of shared innovation spaces, such as hubs and labs, where ongoing collaboration between universities, companies, and startups accelerates connections and deepens projects.

See also:

• Universities Begin Restricting Cell Phone Use in Classrooms
• Bett Brasil Launches AI in Education Summit

For Moura, the question that should guide institutions at this moment is straightforward: “If our knowledge were not limited to the walls of the university, what real problems in society and the market would it be solving today?”

According to him, university innovation is only truly complete when it drives transformation off campus, whether in the form of technological solutions, new businesses, public policies, or social development.

By taking on the role of an innovation hub, the university ceases to be merely a transmitter of knowledge and begins to act as a coordinator of ecosystems, an investor, a strategic partner, and an active agent of development.

This topic will be discussed at the CIEE Ahead Forum – Higher Education, held during Bett Brasil 2026, Latin America’s largest event for Innovation and Technology in Education, which takes place May 5–8 at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo. You can register here.

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