It is the Government’s ambition that Denmark by 2015 should be a top country worldwide in terms of growth oriented entrepreneurship. The goal is to consolidate, strengthen and develop the Danish welfare society. Therefore, already in 2004, the Government initiated the establishment of an entrepreneurship academy with the purpose to strengthen education and training in innovation and entrepreneurship at the institutions of further and higher education. In early 2005, this led to the establishment of International Danish Entrepreneurship Academy (IDEA).  

 

At the time, entrepreneurship was not a familiar concept in higher education, and IDEA therefore entered new territory. IDEA had to find the way to and opportunity of growth. IDEA realised that enthusiasts were a part of the solution and a way of making things grow. Since then, IDEA has been good at attracting the enthusiasts within entrepreneurship and has thus created networks, built knowledge and boosted the drive to new businesses with a high level of knowledge. IDEA has also helped develop innovative solutions in existing companies and organisations.  

 

Over the first five years, IDEA has built up a package of tools and knowledge. This package is now passed on to the University of Southern Denmark because the authorisation from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation expired at the end of 2009. This package is going to live on in a new organisational form under the name of IDEA Entrepreneurship Centre at the University of Southern Denmark. This centre continues the concepts, teaching material etc. developed at IDEA since 2005.  

 

IDEA focuses on initiatives aimed at Students, Teachers and Business & Alumni. Through courses IDEA works to improve the students’ ability to use knowledge in practice and to inspire teachers to be more entrepreneurial and innovative in their teaching methods and to become better at facilitating the students’ learning. IMEET is an international Master’s degree in teaching entrepreneurship developed for teachers and entrepreneurial advisors. Business and alumni are offered the intrapreneurship prize and activities aimed directly at business alumni. Therefore, IDEA is working both with the persons who want to know more about entrepreneurship in a broad sense and future entrepreneurs.  

 

IDEA’s work is based on a grant from the University of Southern Denmark. IDEA Entrepreneurship Centre still carries out regional, national and international assignments for other donors. IDEA wishes to cooperate closely with the Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Region South and the EU on specific projects, drawing on the competences built up at IDEA.