In spring 2020, the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Science (ENI) was founded at the University of Stuttgart under the direction of Prof. Alexander Brem – with the aim of anchoring entrepreneurial thinking as part of scientific excellence and social responsibility. Five years later, ENI is a vibrant place of exchange and creativity, where research, teaching, and transfer come together to further develop entrepreneurship and innovation from different perspectives.
From the very beginning, it was clear: research on innovation and entrepreneurship needs a strong foundation of values. ENI is guided by ENI’s five core values , which shape our daily work and how we collaborate.
- Diversity & Inclusion: We value different perspectives and experiences.
- Care & Compassion: We treat each other with respect and empathy.
- Collaboration & Trust: We work together openly and share responsibility.
- Accountability & Integrity: We act honestly and take responsibility for what we do.
- Empowerment & Growth: We support each other in learning and development.
These principles show clearly: ENI is not only about entrepreneurial success. It is also about responsibility, participation, and working together — in science, in teaching, and in society.
“ENI is more than just an institute – it is a space where ideas can grow and people can thrive.”
– Dr. Brigitte Schönberger, Head of Diversity and Organizational Development
Teaching: Making Entrepreneurship a Hands-On Experience
In its teaching activities, ENI aims not only to provide students with theoretical knowledge, but also to involve them directly in real innovation processes. Whether in the seminar room, in online colloquia, or in creative workshop formats – students are encouraged to develop their own ideas, work in teams, and apply entrepreneurial methods hands-on.
Over 2,000 students from a wide range of disciplines have participated in ENI courses in recent years. Formats such as the lecture series “Applied Entrepreneurship”, the interdisciplinary key qualification “AWAKE”, or the Startup Simulation Game bridge the gap between theory and practice and connect students to Baden-Württemberg’s startup ecosystem.
Particularly encouraging: the courses receive consistently positive feedback and are rated very highly on average. Students especially appreciate the open atmosphere, the interdisciplinary teamwork, and the opportunity to shift perspectives.
“Our courses thrive on the openness with which students from different disciplines tackle entrepreneurial challenges together – the positive feedback from participants shows us how valuable these experiences truly are.”
– Dr. Andreas Wahl, Head of Teaching
ENI sees teaching as a space of experience – fostering creativity, responsibility, problem-solving, and the ability to think beyond disciplinary boundaries.
From Knowledge to Impact: Transfer & Projects at ENI
One of ENI’s central goals is to translate scientific knowledge into practical application – for example through workshops, consulting formats, or events such as Engineering Intelligence , the Entrepreneurship Ecosystems Research Spring School , or the Falling Walls Lab Baden-Württemberg . Since its founding, ENI has been involved in more than a dozen publicly funded third-party research and transfer projects, including:
- DEEM – Dynamic Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Monitoring
- Elements4Founding and QCLUB-2 – raising awareness for entrepreneurship and supporting early-career researchers
- NXTGN state initiative as part of the Baden-Württemberg innovation platform
- YEEP – the Young Entrepreneurs Excellence Program
- UpStart BW by Horváth
- As well as many completed projects, such as EINST4INE, GREENESTO, Pre-Start BW, and IKILEUS
These projects strengthen the innovation culture at the University of Stuttgart and beyond – with a strong focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and societal relevance.
Research: Internationally Visible, Regionally Rooted
With currently 135 academic publications in international journals, conference proceedings, and edited volumes, ENI is making a visible contribution to entrepreneurship research (as of 2020–2025). The focus of ENI’s research lies on four thematic pillars:
- Creativity & Open Innovation
- Frugal Engineering & Sustainable Innovation
- Technology Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurship Education & Transfer
The institute conducts research at the intersection of technology, society, and business in numerous projects. Collaborations exist with international partner universities as well as with regional institutions.
“One of the many highlights of our research is the development of a data-driven approach for analyzing entrepreneurial ecosystems in the DEEM project – a strong example of how we combine academic depth with societal relevance at ENI.”
– Dr. Ferran Giones, Head of Research
Networks and Partnerships
ENI is now closely connected to the ecosystems of the Stuttgart region and beyond: through the Agility Lab, the Innovation Campus Mobility of the Future (ICM), the research campus ARENA2036, as part of Cyber Valley, or in close exchange with the Transfer Center TRACES and many other partnerships. These connections create synergies between science, industry, and civil society.
ENI is also an active partner in the University of Stuttgart’s Entrepreneurship Hub – together with TRACES, the School for Talents, TTI GmbH, and other partners.
Five years of ENI show how important it is to think of entrepreneurship in a holistic way – and to make it a tangible experience through research, teaching, and transfer. The years ahead offer space for new ideas, interdisciplinary perspectives, and responsible innovation.
“What drives us at ENI is not only the desire for knowledge, but also for impact – while finding joy in what we do. The institute thrives because of the people who shape it: their trust, openness, and courage to take new paths are the foundation of our success. I am convinced that the next five years will be at least as exciting as the first.”
– Prof. Alexander Brem, Director of the Institute
The entire ENI team says thank you – to all students, colleagues, cooperation partners, funders, and supporters who have accompanied us on this journey.
We look forward to what lies ahead!
