INN271 Sustainable Entrepreneurship

The course shall provide the students with basic knowledge about the role of entrepreneurship and innovation in the sustainable development of future societies and business life. The world is now facing huge social and environmental challenges that need to be solved and it seems obvious that business as usual is not an option for a sustainable future.

Business model innovation is currently being discussed as an approach to address sustainability challenges, such as those formulated by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the course, we will focus on how business model innovation can contribute to new and disruptive solutions that will make a difference. We will use design thinking as a mindset and approach to develop new solutions that would change how we think about our business model.

Design thinking is a user centric innovation methodology that contains a tool box of techniques that encourages the creation of deep insights, problem definition, and opens of for alternative solutions around problem solving. Rather than going for the first idea, design thinking encourages prototyping and iteration for testing and learning.

This course will facilitate business model innovation for the SDGs through collaborations between academia, industry, entrepreneurs and society. The course will depart from a real problem in the real life hosted by a real actor.

Through the course the students will obtain knowledge and direct hands on experience an on how innovators and entrepreneurs create sustainable value through entrepreneurial and business model activities.

Topics:

• Introduction to business ideas and business models
• Sustainable business models and entrepreneurs
• Design Thinking and user centric learning
• Creative idea generation and concept development
• The sustainable business concept

The students shall acquire knowledge within chosen topics with main focus on user centric oriented concept business development. The students shall apply this knowledge and course methods to finalize a business concept and sustainable business model for an existing stakeholder. The students shall through creative and collaborative learning develop something of value for themselves and other stakeholders.

• Understanding and learning the basic essence and tools of business development, evaluation of new products, services and markets
• Develop skills in business plan writing with its elements as basic market analysis, econmic analysis and profit, and be able to collect and analyse information and apply theoretical concepts
• Using own knowledge in a new and entrepreneurial setting
• Developing creativity and innovations skills
• Developing presentation skills
• Developing collaborative skills