Cultivating Skills, Mindsets, and Innovation: The Student Project Incubator within the Una Europa Alliance

This case study examines the Student Project Incubator within the Una Europa Alliance — an interdisciplinary learning initiative supporting student-led innovation and collaboration. It highlights that entrepreneurship and innovation extend beyond business creation, encompassing diverse student-driven initiatives. It operates as an inclusive learning community that empowers students to develop skills and mindsets through experiential, iterative learning. It offers a safe environment to test ideas, take risks, and focus on growth and process rather than outcomes. A flexible budget of €10,000 per round enables the implementing team to adapt spending according to the evolving needs of each round and its participants. The initiative has strengthened collaboration, interdisciplinary teamwork, leadership, and the application of academic knowledge, while challenges in sustaining engagement across institutions underscore the importance of co-creation, adaptability, and process-oriented development.