This workshop explores the persistent barriers that limit participation in entrepreneurial ecosystems. Building on the OECD’s Missing Entrepreneurs report presented at last year’s Skill-Up, the workshop will bring together good practices from across EELISA to examine innovative approaches to building more inclusive entrepreneurial environments.

Through interactive discussions, case studies, and exchanges with representatives of the Missing Entrepreneurs Group, participants will explore strategies to address gaps in access to financing, networks, skills, and support systems, while developing collaborative approaches to inclusive innovation and social entrepreneurship across the EELISA Alliance.

This session is particularly valuable for researchers in business studies, social sciences, public policy, and innovation studies, as well as practitioners working in economic development, diversity and inclusion, and entrepreneurship education. Together, we will work toward building networks that can drive meaningful change in creating more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems across the EELISA community.

Programme & preparation

The workshop focusses on identifying existing support systems for Missing Entrepreneurs across EELISA ecosystems, visualizing gaps, and creating a practical guideline with concrete actions for universities and ecosystem partners. Before the workshop, each EELISA  particpant should bring their first reflections and listing on missing entrepreneurs in their respective ecosystem, research and/or collaboration regarding the topic. They should define one or two good practices from missing entrepreneurs and invite them to participate or send them following questions: How was know-how acquired? How was the business founded? Which support was most valuable? What was missing?

Day 1 – 16 November (start at 9:00): Understanding the Ecosystem & Identifying Gaps

-Morning: Welcome, Keynote & Research Input, Ecosystem Mapping
-Afternoon: Good Practice Marketplace & Gap Analysis

Day 2 – 17 November (end at 17:00): Designing Solutions & Building the Guideline

-Morning: Future Journey Mapping, Designing the Visual Support System

-Afternoon: Building the Guideline Framework

Confirmed partners, speakers and site visits will continue to be added.

Contact Information

In case of questions please do not hesitate to contact the organizers directly:

Amanda Felber: amanda.felber@zhaw.ch
Petra Moog: petra.moog@zhaw.ch

WHEN

16 & 17 of November, 2026

WHERE

Onsite, at ZHAW Proof of Concept Lab, Lagerplatz 24, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland

APPLICATION DEADLINE

8 November 2026

In many EELISA institutions, Space and Aeronautics play a key role in their academic curricula and expertise. To foster further collaboration in this field, EELISA Skill Up 2026 will focus on this topic, bringing together colleagues from across the Alliance to explore opportunities for cooperation and lay the foundations for the first EELISA Community dedicated to Space and Aeronautics.

New Frontiers: Founding the EELISA New Space Community  is a facilitated community-formation workshop, held within EELISA Skill Up at ZHAW and based on the European Commission’s Communities of Practice Playbook by the JRC. Over the course of 3 days, particiants will get to know each other’s capabilities, visit the Swiss space ecosystem, co-create a shared vision, agree on concrete first objectives across education, research and innovation, and get the community running.

What we want to achieve

– Map existing expertise: Identify who is doing what in Space and Aeronautics across EELISA, including key capabilities, areas of overlap, complementarities, and potential gaps.

– Co-create the community’s vision: Define the community’s purpose, shared vision, and contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

– Set shared objectives: Establish 2–3 objectives for the coming year across each of the three pillars:

– Education: Develop shared course formats and joint learning opportunities.

– Research: Map complementarities and identify realistic pathways towards future joint EU-funded projects.

– Innovation: Explore entrepreneurial pathways, student team exchanges, and connections with Europe’s New Space ecosystem.

– Build the founding team: Establish a core group of 4–6 members from at least 4–5 EELISA universities, and agree on roles, decision-making processes, and a regular meeting rhythm.

Programme outline

Before the workshop: a short participant survey and a one-page capability profile prepared by each university delegation.

Day 1) 18 November (start at 13:00): Who we are, why we exist.

Afternoon: Welcome and framing what EELISA Communities are and what founding one requires. Universities present their space profiles at capability marketplace in rotating small groups. Debrief on overlaps, complementarities and gaps across the alliance.

Day 2) 19 November: What we do together.

Morning: an excursion into the Swiss space ecosystem with external inputs (details to be confirmed).

Afternoon: co-creation of the challenge statement, purpose and shared vision, including SDG mapping.

Day 3) 20 November (end at 17:00): How we keep going.

Morning: Three parallel working tracks — education, research, innovation — each closing with 2–3 objectives for the next year.

Afternoon: Governance and roles, formation of the founding core group, convening rhythm and platform home base, consolidation of the one-page roadmap, and individual commitments.

Confirmed partners, speakers and site visits will continue to be added soon.

Contact Information

In case of questions please do not hesitate to contact the organizers directly:

Nina Walker: nina.walker@zhaw.ch

Petra Moog: petra.moog@zhaw.ch

We are looking forward to welcoming you to Winterthur this November!

WHEN

18 to 20 November, 2026

WHERE

Onsite at ZHAW Proof of Concept Lab, Lagerplatz 24, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland

APPLICATION DEADLINE

8 November 2026