The Open Incubator model is transforming how university innovators across disciplines perceive and engage with innovation. Traditionally, many non-business students saw entrepreneurship as irrelevant to their fields, viewing it as solely about starting companies. Our approach challenges this stereotype by embedding entrepreneurial thinking within faculty curricula, reframing it as a set of essential competencies – creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and innovation – that empower students in any career.

For example, health sciences students participating in an Open Incubator workshop initially questioned its relevance. However, through practical activities and design thinking exercises embedded in their course, they discovered how entrepreneurial skills could enhance their clinical practice, research, and patient care. They reported feeling more confident in identifying problems, ideating solutions, and effectively communicating their ideas within multidisciplinary teams.

This is the true impact of Open Incubator. Beyond venture creation, it builds innovation capacity across the university. By collaborating with 12 universities nationwide, we have engaged over 5,500 students, helping them develop mindsets to tackle complex challenges in their disciplines and society. While 300 projects have emerged and €250,000 has been invested, the core achievement is shifting perceptions: showing that innovation is not exclusive to business schools but is vital in health, humanities, science, and beyond.

Faculty feedback confirms this cultural change, highlighting increased student engagement and applied learning. By democratising entrepreneurship education and challenging stereotypes, Open Incubator empowers every student to become an innovator and changemaker within their chosen field.

Additional Metrics

55 student startups directly supported
€110 million+ raised by student startups supported
200 early-stage startups supported on accelerators
5,500 Trinity students mentored on their ideas by the entrepreneurship team
113 student startups participated
300 projects have emerged
€250,000 has been invested

One of the key learnings from developing and delivering the Open Incubator model is the importance of language and framing when engaging non-business faculties. Many students and faculty members initially resisted entrepreneurship education, believing it was only about starting companies. By reframing entrepreneurship as creative problem-solving, innovation, and impact creation within their disciplines, we overcame these stereotypes and made the content relevant and appealing.

Another crucial learning was recognising the power of collaboration and co-creation. Rather than imposing a standardised programme, we worked closely with faculty to tailor content to their disciplinary contexts, enhancing buy-in and ensuring the integration felt meaningful. Technology-enabled mentorship and flexible delivery formats were also key to democratising access and making entrepreneurship education scalable.

My leadership advice is to listen deeply to your stakeholders and understand their motivations, fears, and priorities. Build trust by co-creating programmes rather than delivering pre-designed solutions. Always emphasise relevance: show students and faculty how entrepreneurial competencies can enhance their teaching, research, practice, and personal growth. Additionally, embrace experimentation; piloting and iterating programmes based on real feedback allowed us to refine our model for greater impact.

Finally, stay mission-driven but humble. Transforming mindsets and institutional culture takes time. Celebrate small wins, recognise the champions who advocate for innovation within their faculties, and remain focused on your ultimate goal: empowering students to become proactive, creative, and confident problem-solvers who can drive positive change within their disciplines and society.

Looking ahead, we aim to deepen and expand the impact of the Open Incubator model. A core focus will be my upcoming PhD research, which explores organisational identity and the integration of entrepreneurship within non-business faculties, walking in their shoes to better understand their cultures, motivations, and challenges. This will inform the development of programmes that truly resonate with each discipline and further break down stereotypes around innovation.

We also plan to integrate advanced technology into OpenIncubator.ie, developing an AI-driven recommender system that creates customised innovation journeys for students, staff, and faculty innovators. This tool will analyse user profiles, needs, and disciplines to provide tailored resources, mentorship connections, and step-by-step guidance, democratising access to entrepreneurship education at scale.

In parallel, we are working towards creating a hybrid centralised and decentralised university innovation support model. This approach will maintain a strong, visible central hub while embedding innovation programmes within faculties, co-designed with staff members to ensure relevance and ownership. It will empower faculties to lead innovation within their contexts while connecting to a broader ecosystem of national and international support, resources, and networks.

Our ultimate goal is to build an inclusive, future-ready university innovation ecosystem where every student, academic, and staff member sees themselves as an innovator and change-maker, equipped with the skills, mindset, and confidence to transform ideas into real-world impact.