Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Student-centred and active learning methodologies:

· Lecture-seminar sessions with guided discussion, synthesis of concepts and case analysis.

· Team project work, focused on a real or simulated challenge, developed throughout the semester with intermediate milestones.

· Design thinking workshops (empathy, ideation, rapid prototyping) and application of the Business Model Canvas.

· Small-scale lean experimentation activities (exploratory interviews, simple MVP tests, collection and interpretation of evidence).

· Formative feedback moments (project critiques, peer review) and individual reflection.

· When feasible, sessions with entrepreneurs/mentors and/or other ecosystem stakeholders, for sharing experiences, validating ideas and providing feedback.

These methodologies promote autonomy, critical thinking and the capacity for creation and teamwork, in line with the EQF level 7 profile and with pedagogical models based on project-based learning and problem-based learning.

At the end of the course unit, the student should be able to:

OA1. Critically analyse concepts, models and typologies of innovation and entrepreneurship in different organisational and societal contexts.

OA2. Identify and evaluate opportunities for creating economic, social and environmental value, based on real problems and user/market evidence.

OA3. Jointly design a value proposition and the corresponding innovative business model, using tools such as the Business Model Canvas and Design Thinking.

OA4. Plan and implement basic experimentation and validation cycles (lean startup), critically interpreting the results obtained.

OA5. Communicate and defend, in a structured and reflective way, the project developed, demonstrating individual contribution, teamwork, ethical responsibility and sustainability.

CP1. Fundamentals of innovation and entrepreneurship

Key concepts, types of innovation, opportunity vs. necessity entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, interlinkages and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

CP2. Opportunities and value creation

Problems and needs, stakeholder analysis, creativity techniques, design thinking and value creation.

CP3. Business models and value proposition

Business Model Canvas, Value Proposition Canvas and preliminary viability.

CP4. Experimentation and validation of business models

Lean start-up, hypotheses and metrics, prototypes and minimum viable product (MVP), user research techniques, assessment of evidence.

CP5. Impact, ethics and project communication

Economic, social and environmental impact (ESG), risks and responsibility, intellectual property, preparation and delivery of the pitch.

NAO