Objective: HEInnovate is a self-assessment and development tool for universities that was developed by the European Commission and the OECD. The aim is to support universities in analysing and specifically developing their entrepreneurial and innovative orientation. It helps universities to identify strengths and weaknesses in this area and to derive strategic measures.
Special features: HEInnovate analyses universities from eight strategic perspectives in order to promote innovation and entrepreneurial thinking:
- Leadership & Governance
- Organisational Capacity: People, Resources, Incentives and Rewards
- Entrepreneurial Teaching and Learning
- Preapring and Supporting Entrepreneurs
- Digital Transformation and Capability
- Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
- The Institutionalised Institution
- Impact of the Entrepreneurial HEI
The key elements of HEInnovate:
- Self-assessment tool: Universities can use the free self-assessment tool to analyse their entrepreneurial and innovative orientation. Universities assess themselves along the eight dimensions mentioned above.
- Workshops & training (e.g. Train the Trainers): HEIs are regularly offered training programmes and workshops to train university staff* in the use of the tool.
- Case studies & user stories: HEInnovate offers a collection of user stories, i.e. experience reports from universities that have already used HEInnovate. Case studies present how various universities have positioned themselves in the eight dimensions and how they got there.
Tasks of the CHE: Within the framework of HEInnovate, the CHE is primarily responsible for supporting the use and promotion of the tool (through workshops and webinars), updating the resources (case studies, user stories, definitions and explanations) and managing an ‘Education for Innovation Community’.

Project Profile
- Title: HEInnovate
- Project Website: https://heinnovate.eu/en
- Project Start: 12/2024
- Project End: 11/2028
- Project Management: Gero Federkeil
- Project Staff: Caroline Friedhoff, Verena Heinzel, Tanja Ologe, Dr. Isabel Roessler, Natalya Sharovatova, Prof. Dr. Frank Ziegele