Entrepreneurship education in Engineering Schools. The need for promoting Knowledge Intensive Entrepreneurship Yannis Caloghirou Ioanna Kastelli Unit of Innovation and Entrepreneurship – National Technical University of Athens

Aim of the presentation The examination of the engineering graduates capacity in undertaking knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial activities in Greece and the role of engineering education in their effort to do so.

Plan of the presentation Why promoting Knowledge Intensive Entrepreneurship is an important issue in Greece? Presentation of survey results on NTUA graduates that have undertaken an entrepreneurial venture Conclusions relating the characteristics of these entrepreneurial ventures to the role of entrepreneurship education

Why knowledge - intensive entrepreneurship is important for the Greek economy? Ιn terms of global competition, Greek economy appears in a strategic position which can be described as “stuck in the middle”. Thus, knowledge intensive entrepreneurship can be considered as an important driver towards the revitalization of country’s competitiveness.

Characteristics of entrepreneurial activity in Greece (GEM, 2009) The lack of important entrepreneurial opportunities or the limited capability of identifying significant opportunities The reduced participation of the well-educated and highly-skilled part of the population in entrepreneurial activity The “shallow” character of entrepreneurship

Survey on entrepreneurial activity undertaken by engineers – NTUA graduates Field research: Telephone interviews using a structured questionnaire Population: 752 engineers (received their professional license from the Technical Chamber of Greece between ). In a previous survey (2005) had declared entrepreneurs or potential entrepreneurs. Sample: 389 engineering graduates, 378 usable questionnaires. Response rate: 52%

Research sample

Characteristics of entrepreneurial activity: economic sector

Characteristics of entrepreneurial activity: number of employees

Characteristics of entrepreneurial activity: market

Characteristics of entrepreneurial activity: sales related to innovative products / services

Characteristics of entrepreneurial activity: degree of integration of research results

Relationship between subject of scientific specialization and entrepreneurial activity

Satisfaction from undergraduate studies at the NTUA

Importance of including the following courses in the NTUA curricula

Assessment of the contribution of undergraduate studies in building non- technical skills

Relevance of knowledge acquired at the NTUA to the real economic and business environment

Reasons for not undertaking a new business (% of engineers that assessed the following factors as important / very important) Change of priorities37,8 Fear of failure23 Difficulties with initial funding35,5 Lack of knowledge related to the field of activity6,6 Lack of knowledge related to the creation, operation and management of the firm 16,3 Difficulties in finding business partners17,8 No market interest10,4 Difficulties arising from the general institutional set- up related to new firm creation 26,6 Find better job34,3

Conclusions Although NTUA engineering graduates can be assessed as a group of people of increased capacity that can potentially undertake knowledge- intensive entrepreneurial activity, in their majority the entrepreneurial ventures undertaken can be characterized as self-employment, of very small size, not innovative, with no export orientation.

Conclusions Entrepreneurship education especially in Engineering Schools should focus on the development of a new entrepreneurial mindset, the improvement of the quality of entrepreneurial ventures

Conclusions Prerequisites for enhancing the entrepreneurial capacity of engineers:  combination of “technical thinking” and “engineering feeling”  with knowledge background on market and business environment understanding  and development of strategic thinking and entrepreneurial feeling

Conclusions The engineering curricula should advance: The development of non-technical skills The provision of sufficient knowledge related to economics and management The injection of a culture promoting creativity, initiative and entrepreneurship

Research method Sample distribution per engineering branch BranchFrequencyPercent Civil engineers9023,8% Architects6316,7% Rural and surveying engineers4612,2% Electrical and computer engineers5614,8% Mechanical engineers5614,8% Chemical engineers4110,8% Mining and Metallurgical engineers184,8% Naval Architecture and Marine engineers82,1% Total378100,0%

Engineering graduates undertook courses in:

Satisfaction from undergraduate studies per engineering branch

Importance of including entrepreneurship courses in the NTUA curricula