On 11 and 12 March 2026, partners of the ZEEUS project gathered in Prague for an in-person consortium meeting hosted by the Prague University of Economics and Business.
The meeting brought together representatives from across the consortium, reinforcing the collaborative spirit at the heart of ZEEUS and its mission to strengthen entrepreneurial capacity within higher education institutions while addressing global sustainability challenge.
Participants were warmly welcomed by Martin Lukeš, whose opening remarks highlighted the importance of international cooperation in driving innovation and impactful entrepreneurship.
Advancing the ZEEUS Seed Factory Model
A central focus of the meeting was the continued design and evolution of the ZEEUS Seed Factories — the project’s core innovation mechanism. These Seed Factories are designed to foster entrepreneurial mindsets, support venture creation, and connect education, research, and business within a dynamic “knowledge triangle”.
Partners engaged in in-depth discussions on how to further strengthen these structures, ensuring their scalability, adaptability, and alignment with both European and African innovation ecosystems.
Reflecting on a Successful First Phase
Beyond forward-looking planning, the consortium also took time to reflect on the outcomes of the project’s first phase. The discussion confirmed that all planned objectives for this stage have been successfully achieved, marking a strong foundation for the next phases of implementation.
This milestone reinforces ZEEUS as a catalyst for transforming higher education institutions into engines of sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship, with a clear trajectory toward long-term impact.
Looking Ahead: Training and Global Expansion
The next key milestone for the consortium will take place in September 2026, with a dedicated Train-the-Trainers session to be held once again in Prague. This event will focus on strengthening alignment and consistency in the delivery of training activities across the ZEEUS Seed Factory network, with a special attention to Social Entrepreneurship, including Sustainability by Design and Stakeholders Engagament.
Following this, the project is set to expand its global engagement with a first consortium meeting in Africa, provisionally scheduled for October 2026 at the Stellenbosch University. This meeting will be closely connected to the local entrepreneurship ecosystem, further reinforcing ZEEUS’s commitment to fostering cross-continental collaboration between Europe and Africa.
Strengthening a Global Innovation Ecosystem.
As ZEEUS progresses, meetings such as the Prague gathering play a crucial role in ensuring alignment, knowledge exchange, and shared ownership among partners. By combining local expertise with international collaboration, the project continues to build a robust and scalable framework for zero-emissions entrepreneurship, contributing to a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven future.
