The first edition of the Transnational Student Entrepreneurship Traineeship Week, organised within the framework of the ACE²-EU Alliance, took place from 23rd to 27th March 2026 at the Medical University of Gdańsk. The event brought together students from partner universities across Europe, who over five days developed entrepreneurial competencies, addressed real-world challenges and explored the innovation ecosystem of the Pomeranian region.
Throughout the programme, participants worked on developing innovative healthcare solutions under the supervision of Joanna Przybytek-Kobierna from the MUG’s Centre of Technology Transfer, supported by a team of experts: Patrycja Maszka-Stankiewicz, Katarzyna Waligóra-Borek, Ph.D., Joanna Borzyszkowska, Ph.D., Jan Dorniak and Katarzyna Bruder from the ACE²-EU Alliance Office. During the first three days, the team also acted as facilitators.
The programme featured intensive sessions delivered by experts from academia, business, and innovation support institutions. Students took part in design thinking workshops led by Agata Ciesielska from the Pomeranian Science and Technology Park (Startup Zone). The introductory lecture, delivered in a hybrid format, was conducted by Līva Stūrmanė from Creativity Lab Latvia. Participants learned how to define challenges, identify user needs, and develop prototypes.
Workshops on the Business Model Canvas were led by Joanna Przybytek-Kobierna, while User Experience principles were introduced by Aleksandra Klasa from the Hapag-Lloyd Knowledge Centre.
Pitch training sessions and stakeholder consultations were delivered by Jaśmina Zwierz and Konrad Guss from the Gdańsk Science and Technology Park. Students presented their projects to regional experts, including representatives of industry and innovation institutions.
As part of the study visits, participants visited the Gdańsk Science and Technology Park and the Pomeranian Science and Technology Park, where they were introduced to the regional innovation infrastructure. They also visited the EXPERYMENT Science Centre, gaining insight into science communication and public engagement.
Additional presentations were delivered by representatives of regional development institutions, including the Pomeranian Development Agency (Invest in Pomerania) and the Marshal’s Office of the Pomeranian Voivodeship.
The programme enabled participants to develop key competencies such as creative problem-solving, teamwork, communication, pitching, user-centred design, and strategic thinking.
The event brought together students from diverse countries and academic disciplines, allowing them to work in interdisciplinary and multicultural teams. This provided an opportunity to approach challenges from multiple perspectives and to gain practical insight into the functioning of a regional entrepreneurship ecosystem.
On the final day, participants attended a presentation by Adam Tuszyński from the MUG’ Department of Promotion and Communication on the history of the Medical University of Gdańsk. They also learned about regional smart city initiatives presented by Tomasz Nadolny from the Gdańsk–Gdynia–Sopot Metropolitan Area and visited the University Clinical Centre, where a lecture and guided tour were delivered by Prof. Michał Hoffmann, Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs.
The week proved both intensive and inspiring, with its greatest value lying in international teamwork and the opportunity to integrate perspectives from diverse academic environments.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all speakers, partners and participants who contributed to the success of this event.
