As part of the EUNICE European University Alliance, the Living Lab Hub – Incubator Program brings together ten partner universities across Europe in a common mission: to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, start-ups, and cross-border collaboration. The University of Catania leads Task 4.5 of this initiative, working hand in hand with the nine other EUNICE partners to build a truly European incubator and innovation ecosystem.
At EUNICE we believe in customised education, interdisciplinarity and deep links with society and industry.
The Living Lab Hub – Incubator Program turns this vision into reality by providing students, researchers, and early-stage ventures across the alliance with the support, infrastructure, and networks they need to turn ideas into impact.
Two core fields of activity
Previously known as the EUNICE Imagine Innovation Cup, the EUNICE4U Start Cup is the flagship entrepreneurial competition of the alliance. Each of the ten partner universities organises a Local Phase, in which student teams and early-stage ventures pitch their ideas. The winning teams from each local phase then compete in a final pan-European edition, hosted each year by the university that won the previous edition.
Through this competition, EUNICE promotes entrepreneurial skills, intercultural collaboration, and the creation of innovative business ideas that can thrive in a European context. | Our incubator combines virtual and physical resources across all partner universities and supports entrepreneurship through six interconnected phases: a) Support for start-ups – from ideation to market validation. This dual structure—virtual and physical—ensures accessibility and collaboration across all EUNICE campuses, while the Hub in Catania serves as the central node for coordination and development. |
- Gain access to a pan-European innovation ecosystem connecting ten universities.
- Benefit from hybrid infrastructure — digital platforms and physical labs across Europe
(see EUNICE JOL-Joint Open Lab). - Participate in flagship events such as the Start Cup, Hackathon, and Start Up Weekend.
- Receive structured, multi-stage support covering all dimensions of start-up growth.
- Join a diverse and interdisciplinary community committed to sustainable innovation.
Whether you are developing a new idea, forming a cross-border team, or seeking mentorship and funding, the EUNICE Living Lab Hub – Incubator Program is your gateway to European-scale entrepreneurship. Together we are shaping the future of innovation across the continent.
Welcome to EUNICE. Welcome to the European innovation ecosystem.