The techno-entrepeneur of the future

Abstract

Present sustainability problems require a new type of techno-entrepreneurship, in which traditional entrepreneurial qualities are combined with new capabilities related to the role, mission and responsibilities of future engineers. There are two sources of these new capabilities: Innovation Systems of which engineer-entrepreneurs are architects and the demands of Sustainable Development. The Functions of Innovation Systems approach distinguishes seven functions which are crucial in transforming niche innovations into successful business and mainstream system innovations and transitions: Entrepreneurial activities, Knowledge development, Knowledge diffusion through networks, Guidance of the search, Market formation, Resources mobilization and Creation of legitimacy/counteract resistance to change. Sustainable entrepreneurship could be based on the characteristics of Natural Capitalism: increasing natural resources productivity, Bio mimicry, a Service Business Model and investing in natural capital. All these functions and characteristics involve knowledge, insight and capabilities, which should belong to the basic equipment of sustainability problem-solving engineers. The question is how to educate and facilitate these new engineers? The paper will deal with this question in relation to training and coaching programs of university supported incubators, focusing on sustainability. The activities of Delft University of Technology aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among engineering students and stimulating techno-starters, both through the academic courses of the Delft Centre for Entrepreneurship and the incubators of Yes!Delft and Dnamo; both incubators will be subject of research. Models of entrepreneurship and programs of training and support will be assessed from a sustainability perspective, on the basis of which suggestions will be done to improve the entrepreneurial capabilities of future engineers.