1.4.1

Local Start-Up Assistance Policy

Purpose

The University of Thessaly (UTh) is committed to fostering local innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic development.

This policy establishes the institutional framework for providing educational, technical, and infrastructural assistance to start-ups and entrepreneurs within the local and regional community of Thessaly, in accordance with the University’s mission of social responsibility and sustainable growth.

The policy aims to support the creation and sustainability of financially and socially responsible businesses within the local and regional community of Thessaly. The policy aligns with the objectives and operational framework defined in the Regulation of the Innovation–Technology Transfer Unit and Entrepreneurship Center (Government Gazette B 7493/31.12.2024) and in accordance with the provisions of Law 4957/2022, Articles 211 and 222.

The policy is implemented primarily through the University’s Innovation–Technology Transfer Unit and Entrepreneurship Center (UTH Innovation–TTU & EC) and its official platform “One Planet” (https://oneplanet.uth.gr/), which promotes sustainable innovation and supports start-up ecosystems across Thessaly and beyond.

Apart from providing financial assistance mechanisms and free incubation services (see Policy n.18), UTh provides mentorship and training workshops, as well as access to clients and investors to support participants to develop and scale their business ideas into impactful ventures. These mechanisms are implemented in coordination with the UTH Innovation–Technology Transfer Unit and the University’s Research Committee (Επιτροπή Ερευνών), and may leverage funding from the University’s own resources, external sponsors, or European and national programmes.

Principles

Community Engagement: The University actively contributes to the regional innovation ecosystem through direct collaboration with local entrepreneurs and enterprises.

Sustainability: All initiatives prioritize financial, social, and environmental sustainability in business development.

Education and Empowerment: The University enhances entrepreneurial skills through mentorship, training, and applied learning.

Open Access to Knowledge: Academic expertise and university infrastructure are shared responsibly to support innovation.

Partnership and Inclusion: The University fosters partnerships with municipalities, chambers of commerce, cooperatives, NGOs, and citizens.

Scope

This policy applies to all programs, initiatives, and partnerships of the University of Thessaly that promote or assist start-up creation, innovation, and sustainable entrepreneurship within the local and regional community.

It covers both student-led and community-based start-ups, including social enterprises and cooperative models. Priority is given to start-ups founded by members of the University community (students, faculty, researchers, and staff or alumni) and by local residents of low or moderate income, provided they pursue sustainable, innovative and community-oriented projects.

Implementation

The University implements its local start-up support initiatives through the One Planet platform, as well as its academic departments, research centers, and innovation units.

Core actions include:

Entrepreneurship Education: Courses, workshops, and seminars on innovation management, business planning, and sustainable entrepreneurship.

Mentorship and Coaching: Access to expert mentors from academia and industry to guide new entrepreneurs.

Incubation and Acceleration: Support for early-stage ventures through incubation programs, networking events, and funding advisory services.

Facilities Access: Provision of laboratory, co-working, and technical spaces for prototype development and testing.

Sustainability Integration: Guidance to ensure that start-ups incorporate social and environmental responsibility principles in their business models.

Research-Driven Innovation: Collaboration between researchers, students, and local enterprises to develop evidence-based, scalable solutions.

Community Collaboration: Engagement with local governments and civil society organizations to identify and address regional innovation needs.

Responsibilities

The Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation oversees strategic coordination of all entrepreneurship and start-up assistance activities.

The One Planet Office acts as the operational hub for implementation, partnership management, and impact evaluation.

The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) supports intellectual property, commercialization, and collaboration agreements.

The Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP) tracks outcomes, including the number of supported start-ups, survival rates, and sustainability impact indicators.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Progress under this policy is evaluated annually through measurable indicators, including:

Number of start-ups and entrepreneurs supported.

Participation of students, faculty, and community members.

Sustainability and employment outcomes of supported ventures.

Partnerships with public and private sector entities.

Results are published in the University’s Annual Sustainability and Innovation Report, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Review

This policy is reviewed every three (3) years by the One Planet Office and the MODIP, or whenever legislative or institutional developments require updates.

References

Law 4957/2022 – Framework for Higher Education, Research, and Innovation

Law 4310/2014 – Research, Technological Development, and Innovation

United Nations SDGs 8, 9, 11, and 17

European Union Green Deal (2020)

University of Thessaly Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development and Innovation

One Planet Platform (https://oneplanet.uth.gr/)