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Entrepreneurship is an evolving discipline, and MIT is at the vanguard of that evolution. From the Institute’s first “New Enterprises” course launched in 1961 to the founding of the MIT Entrepreneurship Center in 1996, MIT has played a major role in shaping modern entrepreneurial concepts and best practices. MIT’s programs are powered by leading-edge technology and breakthrough business research, and offer extraordinary opportunities for those wishing to study entrepreneurship. In addition to its leadership in the development of new technologies, MIT has an unparalleled track record of driving technology from the lab to the marketplace. MIT’s entrepreneurial network has created more than 5,000 new firms with combined annual sales of over $200 billion.
The Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) is a globally renowned business executive education course which introduces participants to MIT’s entrepreneurial education programs, technology transfer system, and global entrepreneurial network. The EDP covers the entire venture creation process, from idea generation to building viable global businesses, with special emphasis on the nurturing roles of corporations, universities, governments, and foundations. Using MIT’s entrepreneurial culture as a model, participants learn what they need to know in order to develop ideas into successful businesses and to increase entrepreneurial opportunities in their corporations, institutions, and regions.
Why is HIE supporting this? This project fits well with the Government Economic Strategy and will impact on many of its strategic priorities. It specifically aims to address the strategic priority of creating a “Supportive Business Environment”, with particular emphasis on:
- Increasing productivity and competitiveness
- Stimulating economic participation
- Increasing GDP Growth
- Ensuring growth is shared and sustainable
- Responsive and focused enterprise support to increase the number of highly successful, competitive businesses;
- A broader approach to business innovation in Scotland that moves beyond viewing innovation as the domain of science and technology alone;
- Addressing gaps in access to capital that are constraining Scottish businesses to grow, while helping to build capacity in the investment community;
- Targeted support to business in the pursuit of opportunities outside of Scotland and the development of internationally competitive firms.
HIE’s priority is now to support businesses of growth and those with growth potential and to develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Highlands & Islands. This activity fits that priority exactly and will also succeed in raising the ambition, confidence and skills of individuals and businesses in the Highlands & Islands.
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