EMPREENDE is built around four main lines of activity, which represent various transversal anchor subprojects:
1) Promoting an entrepreneurial culture;
2) Technological cooperation, the licensing of technology and technical assistance;
3) Business incubation and acceleration; and
4) Prospecting for and identifying opportunities to generate value through innovation.
The first subproject of “Promoting an entrepreneurial culture” envisions activities that lead the institution to progress from the “emerging stage” in the development of an entrepreneurial university and consolidate itself in the “Intermediate stage” of activities for the commercializing of intellectual property. Consequently, it seeks to organize and promote the development of initiatives at UNIRIO relating to innovation activities, especially action that enables technological development, mechanisms to support entrepreneurship, various forms of knowledge transfer and the institution's relationship with the production sector, as well as hosting and promoting social innovations. The other subprojects, "Technological cooperation, licensing of technology and technical assistance", "Business incubation and acceleration" and "Prospecting for and identifying opportunities to generate value through innovation", will enable the institution to proceed to the “mature stage”, expanding its mission in protecting and commercializing its intellectual property assets on behalf of companies and government action devoted to economic development, while always emphasizing environmental and social sustainability.
To this end, at UNIRIO, the subprojects “Technology transfer and licensing”, “Business incubation and acceleration” and “Prospecting for and identifying opportunities for innovation” will be devoted to four fields in which the university stands out and that are capable of having a significant impact, as they are linked to four national priorities, which will provide opportunities to play a leading role in developing an Innovation Ecosystem for the state of Rio de Janeiro. These are:
1) digital transformation of basic education, ongoing training of teachers over the internet and support for the founding and development of “EDTECHS” (startups devoted to the field of education);
2) health innovation, dissemination of best healthcare practices and support for the founding and development of health deep techs (startups dedicated to the field of health);
3) digital transformation of Brazilian public administration and support for startups seeking to develop smart cities; and
4) innovation in the cultural sector and support for artistic entrepreneurship and the digital transformation of entertainment and tourism.
The concept of the Innovation Ecosystem utilised by Empreende, for the purpose of description and analysis, considers that regional environments consist of a large number of participants from various different sorts of organizations, and include the resources necessary for innovation. Among these participating organizations are universities, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, governmental and non-governmental institutions and technical service providers.
From the perspective of the innovation ecosystem, the focus of attention surrounds more intangible and qualitative factors, such as interaction and relationships that interfere with the innovation process, rather than the existing infrastructure and resources. UNIRIO has been seeking to understand the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems within which its campuses are geographically situated. The economic sectors that are a priority for action have closely related to the courses, knowledge generated and outreach activities in the production chains where companies involved in tourism, the creative industries, museums, libraries, archives, education, health and public administration insert themselves.
Governance of the project involves the setting up of two bodies, whose members are appointed by the chancellor of UNIRIO. The Executive Board has the task of promoting discussion and debates and deepening the need to create positive external influence for the project, within the scope of the institution. The Steering Committee comprises all the professors and technical staff who are participating in the project and its purpose will be to discuss objectives, activities and goals, with a view to building a network of individuals at the university who are interested in innovation and entrepreneurship. The Directors of Technological, Cultural and Social Innovation participate in both of those bodies.