About us

The Centre of Expertise Entrepreneurship works towards a strong and innovative economy in the Northern Netherlands. As a knowledge partner for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), we help organizations, companies, educational institutions, researchers, and governments collaborate more effectively. This creates a regional network in which new ideas can grow and societal and economic changes become possible.

Five themes for future-proof entrepreneurship

The centre focuses primarily on the conditions needed to make these changes successful. This is done through five key themes:

• strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem;
• developing and retaining well-educated talent;
• increasing digital skills;
• stimulating collaboration with other regions, especially within Europe;
• improving the quality of entrepreneurship.

Through these activities, the Centre of Expertise Entrepreneurship makes an important contribution to major societal challenges that Hanze is also addressing, such as the energy transition, a healthy society, a livable region, and digital progress.
Read more about our core themes

Knowledge for change

The strength of the Centre of Expertise Entrepreneurship lies primarily in how change is achieved. It develops knowledge, methods and forms of collaboration that help organizations successfully innovate and adapt to new developments. In this way, we ensure that companies and organizations can actually implement new ideas and innovations in practice.

All of this takes place through practice-oriented and multidisciplinary research, in close collaboration with professorships, other research centres and regional partners.

Building impact in the region together

In the coming years, the focus will be on further strengthening our collaborations. The centre aims to deepen long-term partnerships in the region and to better connect research, education, and learning communities. This ensures that the knowledge developed can truly make a difference for the region.