UA in Portugal
European Innovation Academy (EIA)

"The EIA program was a wonderful opportunity to grow and push myself beyond my comfort zone. They throw you into the deep end from the very first night you are there- you network and form teams within a two hour "speed dating" experience. The next day is the first official day of lectures. Through the program, you have access to dozens of talented, inspirational speakers who are experts on subjects ranging from intellectual property to social media marketing to artificial intelligence and virtual reality. Your LinkedIn network will thank you! Beyond that, you get to meet and work with people from all different backgrounds; this past year, the Italy session had participants from more than 70 countries. Weekends are free, too, so you can travel and see other parts of Europe. During the final week, teams focus on preparing pitches for venture capitalists. Overall, I think it was an amazing experience where I met new people, learned from industry experts, tried out new skills, and explored a different culture. I would highly recommend it."

-Elise Kaminski, UA STEM-MBA '21 and participant on the pilot trip in 2017

What is the European Innovation Academy?
Download a transcript for "What is the European Innovation Academy?"
The European Innovation Academy is the world's leading summer entrepreneurship program. It has also been named by Google, the Financial Times, and top policy makers in Europe as one of the top 100 digital pioneers across Europe (EIA).

Innovation Projects

Upon arrival, students are given 48 hours to come up with an innovative idea and form a team of 5 students from all over the world. They then embark on an intense process of market research and product development.  At the culmination of the program, they pitch their idea  in front of a board of venture capitalists.

UA EIA in the Media

              Download a transcript of EIA interview with Harold Wright                                                                 "A Crash Course in Global Innovation"
*Please do not apply through EIA. Instead, apply with the link at the top of the page through The University of Alabama Education Abroad Department, and you will be registered as a group for the EIA conference.