Master's track Technology Entrepreneurship and Strategy

Technology entrepreneurship is a key innovation driver, generating economic and societal value. Innovation Management’s Technology Entrepreneurship & Strategy track offers in-depth interdisciplinary perspectives on technology entrepreneurship alongside hands-on approaches to (sustainable) business development and strategy.

What you will learn as part of the Technology Entrepreneurship & Strategy track

Technology startups have the potential to develop, transform and revolutionize entire industries, promote regional and economic development, and contribute to our overall welfare and wellbeing by developing novel high-tech solutions. The development and commercialization of key enabling technologies is of vital importance in addressing the grand societal challenges of our time as we need to transition to a more sustainable society. But despite holding great potential, entrepreneurial processes are notoriously challenging. Tech entrepreneurs (and intrapreneurs) seeking to develop and leverage new business opportunities need to navigate high levels of uncertainty surrounding the technology, product and market. Given such uncertainties, entrepreneurs typically need to work in resource-constrained environments, requiring innovative ways to commercialize their solutions.  

The Technology Entrepreneurship & Strategy track promotes the development of integral knowledge and skills needed to strategize the various elements of the entrepreneurial process under high levels of uncertainty. In doing so, students come to understand how technology-based entrepreneurship can generate sustainable economic and societal value creation as they develop expertise in areas such as technology commercialization, business model (canvas) development and iteration, financial decision-making and funding, customer and market creation, stakeholder management, and circularity and lifecycle assessment.

Furthermore, students develop a broad understanding of the entrepreneurial process in high-tech and deep-tech settings and insights into the perspectives of key stakeholders, such as investors, customers, strategic partners, users and society at large. In turn, this allows them to identify and evaluate key stakeholders within organizations, ecosystems and society, as well as their stakes and roles in the entrepreneurial process. Students also develop and apply the analytical skills and tools necessary to discover, create and evaluate high-tech business opportunities. With time, they are able to design and apply strategies to guide the business development process towards sustainable value creation and impact while also learning how to navigate, resolve and leverage the uncertainty that forms a natural part of the entrepreneurial process.

When to choose the Technology Entrepreneurship & Strategy track

This track is designed for students with a technical or engineering bachelor’s degree who are looking to further develop their knowledge and skills in the innovation, management and entrepreneurship domains focused on the (sustainable) commercialization of new technology in high-tech sectors. Technology Entrepreneurship & Strategy also welcomes students with a business, economics or social sciences background who wish to further develop their knowledge and skills in the innovation, management and entrepreneurship domain in a high-tech setting.

The track is open to all interested students.

How you will learn

TU/e is located in Europe’s most innovative technology region: Brainport, which presents excellent opportunities for firsthand experience with high-tech firms and their innovation challenges. You learn from regional technology commercialization experts via challenges, site visits and guest lectures. You engage with entrepreneurs working on innovation in the context of new organizations, as well as intrapreneurs working on innovation at established organizations. Your master’s thesis project is typically also designed and executed together with a leading innovation organization in the region.

To facilitate learning, you will often work in teams to address challenges. For your master’s thesis, you will work alone to further your qualities in the independent design and execution of a research project with an organization. An experienced lecturer and researcher will be your mentor throughout the program (i.e., helping you in making choices on elective courses, studying abroad and the graduation project). This region, program and mentoring system all enable students to tailor their education to their skills and interests with a view to their long-term future.