School:University of Twente

Campus Overview

The University of Twente is a university located in Europe in the city Enschede, of the Netherlands. Founded in 1961 it now holds an approximate of 10.000 students. Originating as a technical university its motto “High Tech, Human Touch” describes how the university connects cutting edge technologies with society.

Being the only university in the country having a campus, the university is located in Netherland’s hottest start-up region Twente, with approximately 140 new startups in the region every year. With a Science and Business park across the road and lots of I&E resources the University of Twente has a lot to offer to those willing to create a business.

In the past couple of years the University of Twente already went through some educational changes in favour of innovation and entrepreneurship. Its new Twents Education Model (T.E.M.) revolves around a multidisciplinary, project-based approach. One of the big strengths of the university is its student driven activism, where student driven organisations organise and arrange all sorts of things for their fellow students.

The University of Twente is part of the University Innovations Fellows program since Fall 2016. It is the first university in the Netherlands and Europe participating.

Promoting student innovation and entrepreneurship

The University of Twente provides everything a student may desire to pursue innovation and entrepreneurship. Starting with their first step on campus the students come into contact with the vibrant activities off and on campus.

• Kick-In: Each year all freshman students kick off there academic career with a week full of activities to discover the university, the students and the city. 

• Student-associations: Ordering books, excursions to companies, even the sport you love to play is organized and managed by fellow students. The associations 

• Startup and entrepreneurship events: Such as the three day StartupLaunch weekend, the International Startup Challenge and the EntrepreneurialU organized each year at on the campus of the university

• DesignLab: sience2design4society the DesignLab provides a creative ecosystem for connecting the science to society. In this space students from all fields of study work together to create all the crazy idea they have!

Encouraging faculty innovation and entrepreneurship 

While it doesn't seem as though it directly impacts you, the extent to which faculty are encouraged to innovate and pursue entrepreneurial pathways really does help determine the extent to which they will encourage students to explore their innovative and entrepreneurial potential. Encouragement at the faculty level is one of the things that differentiates more developed I&E ecosystems. Under the "Encouraging faculty innovation and entrepreneurship" category, please provide a succinct view of whether faculty are supported to be entrepreneurial or commercialize their research.

With its standing motto the university 

• High Tech-Human Touch: Connecting the high tech research on campus with the problems society, this is one of the main goals of the university. 

Actively supporting the university technology transfer function 

Your research about IP policies in "Pursue" in the Landscape Canvas will give you a view into the resources your technology transfer office provides. Include this overview in "Actively supporting the university technology transfer function". If your school doesn't have a technology transfer office, you can skip this section.

Facilitating university-industry collaboration

The "Spin Out" section of your Landscape Canvas relates to research centers, industrial parks and industry/mentor networks and will give you a sense of whether the University is "Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration."

Engaging with regional and local economic development efforts 

The "Spin Out" section of your Landscape Canvas also reveals the extent to which the University is engaging with regional and local economic development efforts. Many campuses also have an economic development office and staff whose responsibility it is to leverage the University's research and development for positive local economic benefit.

Related links

University Website

University of Twente

Wiki pages

University of Twente

University of Twente Student Priorities

University Innovation Fellows

Fall 2016

Marjanne Luinstra

David Goedicke

Jos van 't Hof

Arian Hohmann