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4 Reasons Why Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering is Kind of a Big Deal

By Stephanie Lukins Updated Sep 05, 2022

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Introduction
Engineers are essentially inventors for the future
It raises the standards of living on a global scale
You’ll become a T-shaped professional in the industry
… it can also lead to exciting job opportunities and help you develop your career further
It’s about moving forward in today’s technologically revolutionized world

4 Reasons Why Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering is Kind of a Big Deal main image

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When it comes to pursuing a career in engineering, whether it’s resources engineering, sustainable materials or even innovative recycling, specialist skills and knowledge are vital if you want to stand out compared to other job candidates.

Much like every other industry in the world, the engineering landscape is evolving at a rapid rate, and so the demand for engineers with an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset has never been greater.

We’ve teamed up with EIT RawMaterials, the world’s largest innovation community in the raw materials sector, to give you the top four reasons why every aspiring engineer should spruce up on their innovation skills and tap into their entrepreneurial mindset.

Engineers are essentially inventors for the future

Innovation and entrepreneurship are key drivers in today’s engineering world, and the push for sustainable products, services and technologies is needed now more than ever. From global corporations to small businesses, national governments to local governments, many are avidly searching for ways to come up with sustainable solutions to combat pressing environmental challenges.

So, when it comes to innovation in engineering, it’s never been more critical. You’d be mistaken for thinking engineering is all about working with a rational and logical process with no room for creativity, when in fact engineering and innovation go hand in hand.

Innovation is a great influence on the growth and survival of today’s engineering world, which is why it’s important higher education institutions are committed to the teaching of innovation and entrepreneurship.

It raises the standards of living on a global scale

Innovation has the potential to add colossal value to practically everything and anything – it doesn’t always have to be of monetary value which is why it plays such an important role in engineering. It can strengthen market uptake of raw materials solutions and build a bigger platform for a greener future.

Engineers work to improve society, and not just for the benefit of the local community, but the planet as a whole. Over the last few years, there’s been a rise in developing sustainable innovative solutions, from e-mobility and new battery technology for greener, more sustainable cities, to alternative energy sources and robotics for sustainable mining technology. Without innovation in these areas, modern life wouldn’t be possible.

Although there’s still a long way to go in developing and implementing these innovative technologies and processes in order to overcome societal challenges, such as the recycling and substitution of raw materials, it’s important that the next generation of engineers are trained in innovation and are able to use their entrepreneurial mindset to design, create and implement a favorable future – economically, socially and, especially, environmentally.

You’ll become a T-shaped professional in the industry

Master’s programs such as the ones run by EIT RawMaterials Academy have their own dedicated innovation and entrepreneurship modules that are designed to train the next generation of engineers to become T-shape professionals and experts in the raw materials industry.

Although it may feel like foreign territory overlapping engineering with innovation and entrepreneurship, it’s actually where your business instincts can really grow. You’ll develop your expertise in raw material management and entrepreneurship; add to this your in-depth engineering know-how and you’ll be well on your way to a career in academic research, industrial innovation, or even starting up your own business. Speaking of which…

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… it can also lead to exciting job opportunities and help you develop your career further

One way to enhance your qualification and develop your expertise and skills can be summer school. The Master in Advanced Materials for Innovation and Sustainability at EIT RawMaterials Academy runs its own summer school in a different location across Europe each year, and it’s the cornerstone of their master’s program.

The program is focused on tackling the key issues surrounding the substitution and replacement of critical and toxic materials to optimize product performance. Carrying this theme in to summer school, students will sit in on lectures, presentations and have the chance to get involved with practical activities and company visits.

Students will have the chance to work in diverse teams, nurture their entrepreneurial mindset and learn how to bring a product or a service that has potential to the market as they work alongside industry partners’ representatives.

So, as you learn to understand and appreciate all aspects of the engineering industry, your chances of securing that top post-graduation job will increase exponentially.