Gabrovo, Bulgaria - [06/10/2023] - The European Network of Innovative Higher Education Institutions (ENIHEI) successfully concluded its third annual conference on October 5th and 6th, hosted by the Technical University of Gabrovo, Bulgaria.

ENIHEI, a consortium comprising 38 innovative universities from across the European Union, continues to lead in fostering collective innovative thinking regarding the pivotal role of higher education in driving innovation. The network made its debut at the inaugural European Education and Innovation Summit in June 2022.

Serving as a platform for knowledge exchange and idea-sharing, ENIHEI members engage in collaborative efforts to explore how higher education can nurture an innovation-centric culture, thereby fostering creativity, entrepreneurship, and the growth of talent.

The conference featured a distinguished guest, Mariya Gabriel, former European Commissioner for Innovation and current Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Bulgaria, who joined via Zoom. She actively participated in a panel discussion titled "Transformative Contributions of Higher Education to the European Innovation Ecosystem: Opportunities, Challenges, and Resources." Other panelists included Tanya Hristov, Mayor of Gabrovo Municipality; Hikolinka Hinkova, Manager of the Regional Innovation Center, Ambitious Gabrovo; Maria Basheva, Regional Governor of Gabrovo Region; and Fernando Almaraz, ENIHEI Coordinator.

During the conference, the unveiling of the new graphic image and the introduction of the ENIHEI intranet took place. The results of three working groups, focused on critical topics such as female leadership in deep tech, transforming researchers into innovation catalysts, and the concept of university living labs, were presented and extensively discussed. Various aspects of the network's organizational development were also addressed.