The field trip was led by Prof. Dr Daniel Schallmo and Verena Mattes, who gave the students a practical insight into global innovation structures on the ground. The aim of the trip was to gain first-hand experience of Athens’ dynamic start-up scene and to analyse the distinctive features of the Greek start-up landscape.
Insights into Athens’ innovation landscape
The varied programme took the group to key institutions within the Greek ecosystem. These included:
- the German-Greek Chamber of Industry and Commerce,
- the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) with its accelerator, the Athens Centre for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (ACE),
- the Archimedes Centre at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA),
- and Enterprise Greece, an organisation within the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition, the students visited innovative start-up hubs such as The People’s Trust and Orange Grove. In discussions with founders and representatives of the start-up ecosystem, they explored the current challenges, opportunities and success factors associated with international start-up structures.
Practice meets culture
In addition to the academic elements of the programme, the trip also offered cultural highlights: a group guided tour of the city and a visit to the Acropolis enabled the students to experience Athens’ historical and economic significance and to place their impressions of the start-up scene within a broader context.
Practical learning with an international focus
The international start-up tour is an integral part of HNU’s practice-oriented teaching concept. It combines academic content with real-world experience on the ground and strengthens students’ international skills.
“The trip to Athens showed students how differently start-up ecosystems can develop and what role networks, universities and government institutions play in this,” explains Prof. Dr Daniel Schallmo.
The students also draw a positive conclusion: direct interaction with international stakeholders enabled them to link theoretical content from their studies with practical experience and to develop a deeper understanding of global innovation and entrepreneurship structures.
