The kick-off meeting of the tailored made fast-track acceleration programme for graduate students in South Africa was completed with great success on January 24th, 2023. The four-month acceleration program is part of the Eurydice project, which aims to improve the employability of the students in the field of renewable energies. During their residency students will receive mentorship and guidance on different aspects from mentors coming from the industry and academia from the local and European space and participate in training sessions organised online with emphasis on product development, financial and business areas.

By the end of their residency, the student teams will have defined their Business Model, created a prototype or proof of concept, and polished their pitch deck.

Prof. Dr. Marc-Oliver Otto, Eurydice project Coordinator, welcomed all nine (9) student teams/startups to the first meeting, followed by Ms. Ntombizotwa Memane of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and Mr. Rathi Sewsunker, of the Durban University of Technology (DUT).

Then following a brief introduction by the student teams presenting their business ideas, Prof. Ing. Momir Tabakovic of the UASTW presented an overview of the EURYDICE project and outlined the key aspects.

Afterwards, Mrs. Eliza Loucaidou, Director at Deloitte’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship center and ARIS, presented an overview of the acceleration program offered to the student teams running for the next 4 months, as well as the deliverables that each team must complete by the end of their residency to the program. Before the meeting concluded, the participants were also introduced to some industry mentors from Germany and South Africa who will support them in their business journey as part of the program.