The ENGAGE.EU alliance developed the concept of innopreneurship – a reflection of the idea that European citizens need to master a complex set of skills and competences to tackle major societal challenges. The new concept is based on previous notions of entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and innovation. In its core, innopreneurship is innovation-based value creation for society at large. This value is created by exploring and exploiting opportunities that emerge from innovative activities and/or require innovative actions.

Thus, innopreneurship is innovation based (meaning a practical implementation of a new idea that results in the introduction of new or improved products, services, processes, business models etc.). It must create value (social, sustainable, cultural, financial, or all combined) for the society at large. Innopreneurs engage in activities that are sustainable in terms of people, planet and profit, but at the same time their ideas are marketable.

In this year’s high school competition, we will look for young people with the so called “innopreneurial mindset”: students who are able to take the initiative, who are motivated and persistent, who demonstrate self-efficacy and self-confidence. The young innopreneurs are ready to create and/or recognize opportunities; have creativity and innovativeness; and can make decisions under uncertainty. They work by collaborating in diverse and interdisciplinary contexts; mobilize resources and implement their ideas. The innopreneurial mindset also means that your thinking is systemic, future-oriented and disruptive, ethical and sustainable.