Saarland University ranks third place in Europe as “Entrepreneurial University of the Year
Saarland University has been awarded third place in the prestigious international Triple E Awards in the category “Entrepreneurial University of the Year” for Europe. The award recognises the university’s outstanding achievements in entrepreneurship and highlights its leading role in promoting innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.
The Triple E Awards are a novel annual award, the first of its kind in the world to highlight the various dimensions of the so-called “Third Mission” of universities. This “Third Mission” complements teaching and research and includes activities to interconnect universities with their surroundings, in particular society and the economy.
Saarland University (UdS) was selected by an international jury and recognized for its long-standing and current achievements in fostering entrepreneurship, collaboration with business, and community engagement. Through a wide range of programs, initiatives and a comprehensive infrastructure, the university has created a unique founfing culture as well as built a powerful ecosystem. In addition, Saarland University beat out its international competition and, with strong support from the community, secured first place in the Audience Award in the Entrepreneurial University of the Year category for Europe.
University President Professor Manfred Schmitt was very delighted about the current award and emphasized: “After the UdS was already able to achieve second place nationwide in the start-up radar of the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft (Donors’ Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany) this year, the excellent third place as Entrepreneurial University of the Year in the Triple E Awards now also confirms the international position and recognition of the university for its commitment in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation and transfer. The current award honors our ongoing efforts to promote a culture of entrepreneurship at Saarland University and thereby also sustainably strengthen our region.”
With its central organisation “Triathlon”, Saarbrücken University actively supports students, scientists and graduates in putting their entrepreneurial ideas into practice and founding successful companies. Ralf Zastrau, Director of Entrepreneurship and CEO of Triathlon, accepted the award in person at a festive ceremony. He emphasized: “This special, international award is the result of the teamwork and dedication of many outstanding people at our university. Without their research, ideas, innovative spirit and courage, we could not achieve anything as a triathlon team. This success underlines Saarland University’s leading role in entrepreneurship and commitment, strengthens its position as a major player in the international innovation landscape as well as equally emphasizes a special responsibility for Saarland.”
About Triathlon:
“Triathlon” bundles and continuously develops all activities in the fields of technology transfer, patent exploitation and start-up at Saarland University (UdS). Triathlon sees its role as a comprehensive, integrated ecosystem for entrepreneurship, innovation and transfer. It offers broad support and accompaniment of start-up, technology or knowledge transfer ideas and translates them into economic and operational implementation.
www.uds-triathlon.de
About Triple E:
The Triple E Awards are a global acknowledgement of efforts in entrepreneurial initiative and engagement in higher education. It is a leading award that focuses specifically on the various dimensions of universities’ third mission. The Triple E Awards aim to promote change in universities and highlight their role in their communities and ecosystems. Award winners are selected through a multi-stage process based on extensive applications. For 2023, a total of more than a thousand applications were received in all categories and the winners were selected in Barcelona at an international conference attended by around 400 participants. The Triple E Awards are presented by the ACEEU – Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial & Engaged Universities (www.aceeu.org).
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Translation: SIC