Startup Connect project has been closed on April 30, 2021.

Xamk project team thanks all partners and active student participants during the project time!

STARTUP CONNECT – facilitation of startup, entrepreneurship and SME cooperation in the cross-border region project was implemented in cooperation with (lead partner) Kotka-Hamina Regional Development Company Cursor Oy, St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies Mechanics and Optics (ITMO University) & St. Petersburg Foundation for SME Development.

The main project activities in Xamk were the development of entrepreneurial spirit among students and boosting cross-border cooperation in educational activities on entrepreneurship. Xamk has activated entrepreneurial spirit both in Xamk and ITMO universities by offering platforms and channels, information, trainings as well as live and online events with possibilities to join on-the-job training and event management with study credits.

Startup Connect has been the partner organizer in cross-border student event named Innocamp, during which Xamk and ITMO students set out to solve real life business challenges. The event involved students with different backgrounds and studying specialisations, and so the case solving process was entertaining, productive, and informative for all team members. The students learned team working and ideation, and businesses received innovative solutions to their cases.

The project has formed a cross-border student entrepreneurship community by conducting student meetups and questionnaires for both Xamk and ITMO students. In addition, the project has marketed the community on various platforms and developed an action plan for piloting an online communication platform to further continue the growth of the cross-border student community.  Xamk team has also produced a Student’s Manual for Entrepreneurial Activities to support the work. Patteri Student Entrepreneurship Society (PatteriES) is the main contact point in Xamk for cross-border activities. Please see https://www.patteries.com/

One aspect of evoking and supporting the entrepreneurial spirit in Xamk and ITMO was to offer various ways for students to be involved in organizing startup events. One of the biggest platforms for this is *ship Startup Festival. Please see https://shipfestival.org/

With the help of the *ship recruitment plan and the project networks, Startup Connect has been able to involve students not only to work in *ship but also to create a consistent way for students to turn their work and participation into study credits.

Xamk Startup Community & PatteriES will continue offering students various possibilities to join startup activities.  Please see https://www.xamk.fi/startup/