"Network IQ Baltic Excellence Hub" will promote academic excellence, research and entrepreneurship

On April 24, 2024, the EKA University of Applied Sciences (EKA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the global research and innovation company "Tataj Innovation" on the setting up of the "Network IQ Baltic Excellence Hub". Such a platform of excellence will promote academic excellence, research, and entrepreneurship, and in its implementation, the university will play an important role in organizational processes and participation.

"The purpose of the "Network IQ Baltic Hub" is to build innovation and entrepreneurship capacity at universities and use network intelligence to bridge the innovation divide in Europe," explains Professor Daria Golebiowska-Tataj, founder and Head of "Tataj Innovation".

"It will be a meeting place for academic staff, researchers, students and entrepreneurs for skills development and innovation, in cooperation with various different stakeholder groups," emphasizes EKA Rector, Dr. oec. Oksana Lentjusenkova. "Network IQ Baltic Excellence Hub" will provide wider opportunities for international cooperation both in the region and in the global market, as experts, universities and companies from all over the world will work there."

"Network IQ Alliance", of which EKA is also a partner, is one of the projects of the Higher Education Initiative (HEI) program of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Strengthening the innovation capacity of higher education is one of the main priorities of the EIT in its new strategy "EIT Strategic Innovation Program 2021–2027.". It aims to support higher education institutions with knowledge and training, as well as access to the EIT′s innovation ecosystem and funding, enabling them to develop innovation action plans that complement their individual needs.