HSUP is Hungary’s first unified higher education startup programme, bringing together all players in the ecosystem as a common platform, from financial investors and entrepreneurs to universities, students, professional partners and mentors.
The programme promotes problem-solving thinking through a two-semester e-learning course, using a proprietary methodology. The optional theory course can be taken without contact hours, even with a smartphone. Young people with a winning idea or working in a winning team will receive a practice-oriented, experiential second semester with a special scholarship to focus on their project while studying. At the end of the academic year, the finished project work is presented to investors, business angels and incubators, who provide useful feedback and professional offers for the best ones to continue.
The Jeune – Young Entrepreneurs Organization of the European Union, which founded the award, aims to build new and existing global relationships with NGOs, government institutions and companies involved in the development of young entrepreneurs’ skills. For nearly 30 years, the organisation has represented more than one and a half million young people from 20 countries, collaborating on joint research on entrepreneurship.
“It is a great recognition that a Hungarian programme supporting young innovators has been noticed at international level. The government also aims to strengthen the scientific and creative performance of universities and encourage new generations of RDI by supporting individual excellence. The Hungarian Startup University Programme was launched last October with 21 universities and more than 2100 students. The popularity of the initiative is demonstrated by the fact that we have started the second academic year with 27 universities and more than 4000 students,” emphasised Tibor Gulyás, Deputy State Secretary for Innovation at the Ministry for Innovation and Technology.
“The student teams have so far earned nearly HUF 300 million in scholarships, more than HUF 100 million in investments with 100 successful projects and dozens of podium places in startup competitions. This academic year, students will receive nearly one billion forints in scholarships, which will make it possible to fund nearly 300 new projects,” added Krisztián Kölkedi.
Budapest, 06 December 2021
Ministry for Innovation and Technology