Futures Thinking Takes Centre Stage at Ulysseus MCI Innovation Hub Days

On 9–10 June 2026, the Innovation Hub on Sustainable Entrepreneurship & Impact of Ulysseus, based at MCI | The Entrepreneurial School (Austria), is bringing together participants from across the Ulysseus European University Alliance for exchange and collaboration. This event is part of an extended programme of activities organised for the Ulysseus MCI Week and Summit.

Designed as an interactive format rather than a traditional conference, the Ulysseus MCI Innovation Hub Days focus on sharing ongoing work, generating new ideas, and strengthening future partnerships. Under the central theme “Exploring the Futures of Entrepreneurship”, participants will engage with foresight approaches to better understand how entrepreneurship is evolving and what this means for universities, innovation hubs, and regional ecosystems.

The event is targeted at researchers in entrepreneurship and sustainability, alongside professionals supporting start-up development, including Technology Transfer Offices, Knowledge Transfer Offices, entrepreneurship centres, and ecosystem partners.

Driving Collaboration in Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The programme combines keynote inputs, collaborative sessions, and project presentations to encourage exchange and co-creation.

The Ulysseus MCI Innovation Hub Days opened with a keynote by Dr. Friedrich Hinterberger, Vice-President of the Club of Rome (Austrian Chapter), who set the stage for the Futures Lab. At this interactive session, he introduced key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of entrepreneurship allowing participants to explore possible future scenarios, test ideas, and reflect on how entrepreneurship ecosystems may transform in the years ahead.

The focus then shifted to research and innovation activities at MCI, where researchers presented ongoing and completed projects related to entrepreneurship. These presentations offered valuable insights into current developments and created space for discussion and identification of collaboration opportunities within the Ulysseus alliance.

On the second day of the event, the agenda will cover the presentation of FutureScomp Austria, a reference framework for Future Literacy in Higher Education developed by the UNESCO Chair in Futures Capability for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at MCI. This session will underscore the importance of equipping higher education institutions with the tools to anticipate and shape future developments.

Finally, the programme will conclude with a dedicated session on the Entrepreneurial Journey, including practical perspectives on how innovative ideas evolve into viable ventures. Through contributions from student start-ups, MCI’s entrepreneurship support services, and regional ecosystem partners, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the different stages of entrepreneurship and the support structures that enable success.

Presentation of the Innovation Hub for Sustainable Entrepreneurship & Impact of Ulysseus

A key highlight of the Ulysseus MCI Innovation Hub Days was the presentation of the Innovation Hub on Sustainable Entrepreneurship & Impact, based at MCI, The Entrepreneurial School. This session offered insights into its strategic focus and its role within the broader Ulysseus Innovation Hub ecosystem.

The Ulysseus Innovation Hub on Sustainable Entrepreneurship & Impact focuses on accelerating technology-driven business models by leveraging established structures, integrating regional ecosystem partners, and creating new formats within the university. Through its Entrepreneurship Center and dedicated programmes, it provides a platform for talent across the Ulysseus network to develop innovative and sustainable ideas, contributing to both regional competitiveness in Tyrol and the wider European innovation landscape.

As highlighted by Dr. Natacha Mosenhauer, Innovation Hub Manager of the Ulysseus Innovation Hub on Sustainable Entrepreneurship & Impact: “We are very happy to present the high-quality research and projects led by our MCI researchers and to show the scope and impact of their work. The Futures Lab led by our InnoHub and the UNESCO Chair in Futures Capability for Innovation and Entrepreneurship also reflect our commitment to futures thinking and innovation.”

In summary, the Ulysseus MCI Innovation Hub Days showcases the strength of collaboration across the alliance, bringing together diverse expertise from research, innovation, and entrepreneurship support. The event highlights the importance of foresight, interdisciplinary dialogue, and strong ecosystem connections in shaping the future of entrepreneurship while also reinforcing the role of Ulysseus Innovation Hubs as drivers of sustainable impact, both regionally and across Europe.

About Ulysseus

Ulysseus is one of the 73 European Universities alliances selected by the European Commission under its flagship initiative of the European strategy for universities. These alliances, co-funded by the European Commission, bring together almost 650 higher education institutions of all types from across Europe.

Led by the University of Seville, the Ulysseus European University Alliance encompasses seven other partner universities: the Université Côte d’Azur (France), University of Genoa (Italy), the Technical University of Košice (Slovakia), MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® (Austria), Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), the University of Münster (Germany), and the University of Montenegro (Montenegro).