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Leading Belgian Business School
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Who
Who is the programme aimed at?
Profile
This certification, a specialisation track of our flagship Executive MBA, is designed for experienced professionals, managers, and aspiring entrepreneurs who are ready to become innovation champions within their organisations or launch new ventures. It is ideal for those who want to strengthen their entrepreneurial mindset, design customer-centric solutions, navigate uncertainty, and create economic and societal impact in an increasingly complex world.
Key admissions criteria
- Higher Education Diploma (Bachelor/Master/Other)
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience, ideally with responsibilities in business development, product or service innovation, project management, or entrepreneurial initiatives.
- English proficiency
- Strong motivation to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, master innovation tools, and turn ideas into scalable solutions that address real-world challenges.
Confidently design, test, and refine innovative solutions that respond to complex market needs, ensuring faster go-to-market success.
Establish yourself as a forward-thinking leader capable of driving strategic innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives within any organisational context.
Develop the mindset and practical know-how to navigate uncertainty, effectively pivot ideas, and turn bold visions into actionable and sustainable outcomes.
Become a catalyst for transformative ideas by advocating agile practices and creating an environment where creativity and experimentation flourish.
Apply entrepreneurial thinking to tackle pressing issues such as sustainability, inclusion, and digital transformation, creating shared value for business and society.
Expand your connections through hands-on projects, expert-led workshops, and peer learning, opening doors to future partnerships and ventures.
Overview & Modules
The University Certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship empowers professionals to turn ideas into scalable, impactful ventures. In as little as four months, with four courses spread over four long weekends, participants gain practical, actionable knowledge in new product development, business model innovation, entrepreneurial finance, and policy, all culminating in a capstone project that transforms theory into a market-ready solution. Guided by leading professors and industry experts, you will unlock your capacity to create, lead, and deliver breakthrough innovation.
Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Societal Challenges
Address pressing societal issues through entrepreneurial thinking and innovation, focusing on creating scalable, impactful solutions for global challenges.
This course is preparatory and must be followed by the participant online over the summer.
- Provided by Alexander HAHN
New Product Development
Learn to design, develop, and launch successful new products by applying user-centric approaches, agile prototyping, and market validation techniques that reduce risk and accelerate innovation cycles
- Taught by Frederic OOM
Innovation Policy
Understand how policies and regulatory frameworks influence innovation ecosystems, and learn to navigate, shape, and leverage public and private incentives to foster sustainable growth and competitiveness.
- Taught by John METSELAAR
Business Model Innovation
Explore how to reinvent and adapt business models in response to evolving markets and technologies, enabling organisations to capture new value and maintain a competitive edge.
- Taught by Benjamin BEECKMANS & Bruno WATTENBERGH
Entrepreneurial Finance & Corporate Venturing
Master the financial tools and funding strategies entrepreneurs need to secure capital, manage growth, and scale ventures, while also examining how corporations leverage venturing to drive internal innovation.
- Taught by Olivier WITMEUR & Bruno WATTENBERGH
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Capstone
The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Capstone prepares you to transform ideas into viable business opportunities. You will test assumptions, integrate Digital and ESG challenges, and develop data-driven pitches, gaining a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial journey from A to Z.

- Analyse complex societal and market challenges to uncover unmet needs and entrepreneurial opportunities.
- Apply Design Thinking and Lean Startup frameworks to design and iterate customer-centric solutions.
- Demonstrate resilience and adaptability in navigating the ambiguity and risks inherent to entrepreneurship.

- Design and validate innovative products or services using prototyping and the Build-Measure-Learn cycle.
- Develop robust and adaptable business models that respond to changing market dynamics.
- Integrate sustainability and digital trends into innovation strategies.

- Evaluate and select appropriate funding strategies, including entrepreneurial finance and corporate venturing.
- Engage effectively with diverse stakeholders through compelling storytelling and data-driven pitches.
- Demonstrate leadership and teamwork in executing innovation projects from idea to market launch.
The pillars of learning
Your return on investment is the ability to emerge equipped to lead innovation agendas, build sustainable ventures, and unlock new growth opportunities. You will confidently identify and validate promising business ideas, develop and test new products and business models while minimising risk, secure the necessary resources and funding to scale your solutions, and effectively lead cross-functional teams through uncertainty and change.
Every module lasts over four weeks including an intensive long week-end, a dynamic mix of interactive online & on campus lectures, case discussions, and collaborative exercises invites participants to tackle real-world problems, test new ideas, and strengthen both creative and critical thinking skills. Throughout the programme, a curated set of practical management tools and resources — including e-books, cases, articles, and online references — supports immediate application and serves as a lasting toolkit for future business decisions.
Flipped-Classroom
Foundational content — such as readings, videos, and expert lectures — is explored before class. This means classroom time is dedicated to high-impact discussions, real-world application, and collaborative problem-solving. The result: more active participation and deeper learning during every session.
Blended Learning
Each course combines flexible online activities with dynamic in-person sessions. This hybrid format supports different learning styles, encourages self-paced preparation, and ensures that valuable classroom time focuses on meaningful interaction and practical application.
Active Learning
Participants are at the heart of the learning journey. Through lively discussions, simulations, debates, and peer learning, active participation becomes second nature. This approach strengthens critical thinking, deepens understanding, and builds lasting knowledge.
Authentic Assessment
Assessments mirror the challenges faced in real business settings. Whether developing a strategic plan, navigating a simulation, reflecting on personal leadership practice, or delivering a persuasive presentation, each task is designed to test practical application, not just knowledge.
30
%
higher revenue growth is achieved by companies with strong innovation capabilities, which also show greater resilience in volatile markets
(Source: EY Innovation and Growth Study, 2024)
70
%
of companies plan to increase investments in new product development and business model innovation over the next three years, creating demand for professionals who can lead these initiatives.
(Source: Deloitte Global Innovation Survey, 2023 )
85
%
of executives say innovation is critical to their growth strategy, yet only 25% believe their current innovation efforts are effective. This gap highlights the urgent need for leaders skilled in entrepreneurial thinking.
(Source: PwC Innovation Benchmark Report, 2024)
What are the admission criteria?
To enter the programme, participants must hold a university degree and be proficient in English. Candidates are selected based on their application form and an interview.
Financial Aid
DISCOUNTS
- Alumni of the Solvay Brussels School, Solvay Lifelong Learning, Université libre de Bruxelles and Vrije Universiteit Brussel benefit from a 10% discount on tuition fees.
- Ruling: Your tuition fees may be recognised by the Belgian authorities as professional expenses and could therefore be eligible for a deduction under personal income tax (IPP) and corporate tax (ISOC). This potential tax saving could cover up to 25% of your tuition fees. For more information, please contact us or visit the SPF website.
SUBSIDIES & FINANCIAL AIDS
Subject to renewal of the regional agreements
- Brussels region - Educational Subsidy: Self-employed, or employees working for SME in Brussels, under certain conditions, are entitled to an Educational Subsidy. You must submit the subsidy application within 30 days of the start of the programme/module/course start date. (for more information: Economie-Emploi)
- Brussels region - Paid Training Leave: Paid educational leave allows workers (private sector) to train during the day or in staggered hours while retaining their salary. Employers receive reimbursement from Brussels Economy and Employment, based on specific criteria. The employee must submit the certificate of enrollment (a specific certificate for educational leave issued by the school) to their employer within 20 days of the course start date. This certificate must be delivered to the employer either by registered mail or with a receipt acknowledgement. In case of a late registration after the launch of the programme at the latest within 8 days of the registration. (for more information: Economie-Emploi).
- Flanders region - SME Wallet: The SME e-wallet is oriented towards practitioners of ‘liberal professions’ and SMEs whose operational headquarters are located in the Flemish Region. You must submit the subsidy application within 14 days of the programme/module/course start date. (for more information: VLAIO)
- Wallonia region - Training Vouchers: Full- or part-time employees from SMEs with a maximum of 250 workers, as well as self-employed individuals. You must submit the subsidy application within 14 days of the programme/module/course start date. (for more information: Forem).
Newsroom
Read in our blog
Marianna is the Content & Social Media Coordinator at Solvay Brussels School - Lifelong Learning.
8/04/25
Our Editorial Team brings you the latest in blog posts covering business, finance, sustainability, and programme insights from Solvay Lifelong Learning!
31/07/25
Bruno is Senior Advisor and Ambassador for Innovation at EY and the Academic Director of the Solvay EMBA and Accelerated Management Programme. He is an expert in strategy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
9/04/25