Information
Client: ams OSRAM
Service: Ideation Program
Type: Alinea
For: European Women in Industry & Research
Year: 2024–2027
Duration: 9 Weeks
Delivery: Online
Services
Branding
Strategy
Sourcing
Selection
Delivery
Impact & Evaluation
In June 2023, the European Commission approved the second Important Project of Common European Interest in Microelectronics and Communication Technologies (IPCEI ME/CT). This initiative seeks to support the EU’s digital and green transformation by fostering innovative microelectronics and communication technology solutions. As part of this project, ams OSRAM launched “OptoSuRe” to advance research and development in highly efficient optoelectronic semiconductor devices. An essential component of OptoSuRe is the “Engage” program, designed to empower women in entrepreneurship by addressing systemic challenges and gender biases.
Engage, in collaboration with Alinea, focuses on expanding female peer networks, fostering an innovation mindset, and bridging the gap between academic research and market needs. The program targets female researchers across Europe in fields like optics, photonics, and smart manufacturing, as well as women in industry, promoting academia-industry collaboration. The Engage campaign received submissions from 19 nationalities, selecting 20 participants.
The program featured workshops and personalized mentorship, covering entrepreneurial mindset, opportunity assessment, customer centricity, and ecosystem mapping. Participants benefited from guest speakers, including successful female entrepreneurs and industry experts. The final showcase allowed participants to present their progress, with 93% planning to continue exploring commercialization projects.
Feedback highlighted the program’s positive impact on confidence and commercialization understanding, with high satisfaction and recommendations. Expressions of Interest for 2025 are now open on the microsite to continue supporting European women in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Alumni
Testimonial
With Engage, we launched a pioneering training program for female researchers at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey. Helen designed and delivered Europe’s first fully digital ideation stage entrepreneurship training for women. By thoughtfully designing the program, Helen supported participants who often face systemic barriers and gender bias. The women benefited from one-on-one mentoring sessions, a selection of excellent speakers, and exposure to female role models from industry and research. Our European cohort was very satisfied with the learning outcome and would highly recommend Engage to their peers. I enjoy working with Helen as her reliable, structured and focused way of working makes it possible to bring the programme to life quickly. I appreciate her immediate support in every way and look forward to working with Helen in the future.