Between June 3–7, 2025, Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava (USV) successfully hosted the inaugural edition of the international event “The NEO Entrepreneurship Conference”, a landmark initiative organised in partnership with eight prestigious European institutions from the NEOLAiA Alliance consisting of Bielefeld University (Germany), University of Jaén (Spain), University of Nicosia (Cyprus), Örebro University (Sweden), University of Ostrava (Czechia), University of Salerno (Italy), University of Tours (France), and Šiauliai State University of Applied Sciences (Lithuania).
The conference promoted a contemporary and interdisciplinary vision of entrepreneurship, with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability and the integration of emerging technologies, aiming to foster dialogue and cooperation among academia, the private sector and public institutions.
Over 100 participants—academics, researchers, PhD students, and entrepreneurs—from more than 15 countries, including Canada, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, and Lithuania, attended the event.
Highlights and Key Moments
The conference opened on June 3 with a roundtable dedicated to USV’s partnerships with regional stakeholders, including representatives from the Suceava Chamber of Commerce and Industry, underlining the university’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurial ecosystems.
On June 4, thematic workshops tackled major topics such as:
– Building sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems
– Best practices in regional entrepreneurship (NEOLAiA Report)
– Entrepreneurial training models across NEOLAiA universities
– The NEOLAiA Start-Up HUB: “We Start – You Up”
– The Summer Entrepreneurship Challenge (SUMMA)
The official opening ceremony on June 5 featured institutional addresses by:
– Prof. Mihai Dimian, Rector of USV
– Prof. Gabriela Prelipcean, Vice-Rector
– Prof. Carmen Eugenia Năstase, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Administration and Business.
This was followed by keynote speeches from distinguished international guests:
– Marinos Themistocleous, University of Nicosia (Cyprus)
– Daniela Andrén, Örebro University (Sweden)
– Erika Jonuškienė, Šiauliai State University of Applied Sciences (Lithuania)
– Marco Valeri, Niccolò Cusano University (Italy)
Promoting Local Entrepreneurship
In support of regional development, USV organised a local producers’ exhibition on June 5, within the University Campus. The initiative was part of the “A taste of Bucovina” program, coordinated by Claudia Gogu from the Suceava Agricultural Department. The exhibition showcased authentic Bucovina products, celebrating the intersection of entrepreneurship, culture and sustainability.
Scientific Contributions
The conference featured seven thematic sections, covering:
– Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship
– Student Entrepreneurship and Ecosystems
– Tourism, Heritage and Community Engagement
– Accounting and Finance
– Economy, Trade and Services
– Business Administration
– Mathematics, Economic Informatics and Statistics
On June 6, participants joined a study visit to successful regional businesses, followed by a cultural tour of Bucovina, reinforcing the connection between entrepreneurship and heritage. The conference concluded on June 7 with a strategic reflection session on the future of neo-entrepreneurship in Europe.
“The NEO Entrepreneurship Conference” laid the groundwork for new forms of academic collaboration, emphasizing entrepreneurship as a driver of inclusive, regional, and sustainable development in Europe and beyond.
For the full program and further details, visit: http://conferinta.feaa.usv.ro/index.php/iec/neo2025
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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
