ENT100 Introduction to innovation and entrepreneurship (Spring 2027)

The course provides an introduction to innovation and entrepreneurship, with particular emphasis on how new ideas can be developed into viable ventures that address complex societal challenges. Students work in project-based teams to identify needs in complex systems, develop business ideas, design business models, and establish a company.

Through entrepreneurial learning approaches and methods such as design thinking, systems thinking, and business model development, students gain experience with the entire innovation process – from holistic problem understanding and analysis of interconnected causal factors, through ideation, testing and iteration, to formalisation of a venture and communication of the concept to relevant stakeholders.

The course offers practical training in how to build a company or project at the intersection of sport, health, the voluntary sector and public administration, and develops competencies in addressing complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration, project management, value creation and sustainable entrepreneurship. These competencies are directly transferable to both starting one’s own venture and engaging in innovation work within existing organisations.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to

• develop a business model and carry out the basic steps involved in establishing a company
• explain principles of complex problem solving and systems thinking, and apply these to issues in sport science and societal development
• analyse real-world problems using interdisciplinary methods applied in innovation and development work in the labour market
• apply design thinking and other innovative processes to develop solutions aimed at inclusion of vulnerable groups in physical activity
• conduct needs assessments, user involvement and stakeholder analysis
• collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary teams and manage roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes in project work
• assess and discuss the importance of cross-sector collaboration in addressing complex societal challenges
• communicate solution proposals and business ideas in written and oral form to different target groups, including decision-makers and partners

Throughout the semester, students work in interdisciplinary groups on a real societal challenge provided by, or developed in dialogue with, external partners. The course begins with a start-up seminar introducing the challenge, methods and project structure.

This is followed by thematic workshops on, among other topics, design thinking, complex problem solving, systems understanding, business model development, user involvement and pitch training. The groups conduct fieldwork and collect insights from relevant target groups and stakeholders.

The process includes a midterm presentation with feedback, iterative further development of the solution and business model, and registration of a company. The semester concludes with an examination in which the groups present their solutions and business concepts to fellow students, academic staff and, where relevant, external stakeholders, in a format that mirrors professional innovation and decision-making situations in working life.

• Midterm presentation: Groups present preliminary analyses and solution proposals and receive structured feedback.
• Mandatory attendance (minimum 80%).

All course requirements must be approved in order to be eligible for the final examination.

The examination consists of two parts:

• Written business plan (60%). Graded A–F.
• Oral pitch presentation (40%). Graded A–F.

The assessment formats are designed to reflect key professional situations, in which students are evaluated on their ability to analyse needs, develop feasible solutions, document them in a professional manner, and communicate them convincingly to relevant stakeholders. The final grade is awarded on the scale A–F.