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In 2025, students from Feng Chia University once again traveled to Portugal to participate in the world’s largest innovation and entrepreneurship bootcamp—the European Innovation Academy (EIA). Held from July 20 to August 8, the three‑week intensive global entrepreneurship challenge brought together more than 350 students from over 30 leading universities worldwide, supported by 45 experienced mentors and speakers from the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship, and business.
On this international stage blending global talents with Portugal’s local innovation ecosystem, students were tasked with transforming creative ideas into viable business solutions. Feng Chia University students not only completed the full entrepreneurial journey—from ideation to product realization—but also captured the program’s highest honor, the 25K Ed Quinones Spark Award. In addition, two student teams earned Top Team recognition, while another team was shortlisted for an international award, demonstrating the global competitiveness and innovative potential of Feng Chia students.
Twelve students and faculty members from Feng Chia University traveled to Portugal from July 20 to August 8 to participate in the 2025 European Innovation Academy (EIA). Among them, Han‑Jui Chiang, a member of the Port EV team, won the program’s highest honor—the 25K Ed Quinones Spark Award—and was also shortlisted for the Patent Innovation Award.
Three‑Week Immersive Entrepreneurship Challenge
EIA is co‑organized by Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, Google, and other world‑class institutions and enterprises. This year’s program was hosted at the Abel Salazar Building of the University of Porto in Portugal.
The curriculum unfolded in three phases:
- Week 1: Product development and validation
- Week 2: Go‑to‑market strategy and performance‑driven marketing, culminating in a startup expo
- Week 3: Direct pitching to potential investors for initial funding opportunities
Throughout the program, students received guidance from industry experts and investors from companies including Google, Amazon, Disney, Microsoft, and IKEA.
This year, Feng Chia University dispatched 12 students from various colleges and international degree programs, representing fields such as international trade, information engineering, international business, business studies, industrial engineering, business innovation design, and data analytics. The delegation was led by Ting‑Ting Chen from the Continuing Education Bachelor's Program of Business and Michal Fliegel from the Bachelor's Program of International Business Administration in English, who also conducted preparatory workshops during the semester to strengthen students’ readiness for global competition.
Participants of the 2025 EIA completed a full entrepreneurial project, progressing from concept ideation to product development through lectures, workshops, and international team collaboration.
Award Highlights
25K Ed Quinones Spark Award — Grand Prize
Port EV Team Member: Han‑Jui Chiang (UQ‑FCU Program) An innovative project focusing on second‑life applications of used batteries to advance sustainable energy development while enhancing environmental protection and energy efficiency. In addition to winning the top award, the project was also shortlisted for the Patent Innovation Award, underscoring its patent potential and commercial viability.
Top Team Awards
- Runnly-Team Member: Wei‑Chieh Chen (MONASH‑FCU Program) A women‑only running community platform featuring facial verification to ensure user authenticity and create a safe sports community.
- ElevAIte-Team Member: Tzu‑Ting Peng (Department of International Business) A health‑management platform designed for individuals with chronic illnesses, integrating diet tracking, fitness functions, and social networking to support user wellbeing.
International Award Finalist
- Open Stage-Team Member: Chiao‑Han Chang (SJSU‑FCU Program) Shortlisted for the Ed Quinones Spark Award, this mind‑body wellness application incorporates expressive movement and physical rhythm, offering an alternative to traditional static meditation experiences.
Student Reflections and Global Learning Experiences
Students widely agreed that the three‑week, English‑immersive EIA experience far surpassed traditional classroom learning and provided invaluable real‑world international collaboration opportunities.
- “EIA pushed me out of my comfort zone. It proved that Feng Chia students can compete globally!” — Jun‑Xiu Su (SFSU‑FCU Program)
- “Discussing startup concepts in unfamiliar languages and cultures wasn’t easy, but that’s what made it invaluable.” — You‑Zhen Li (RMIT‑FCU Program)
- “Our Expo presentation drew so much attention—every late night was worth it!” — Chiao‑Han Chang (SJSU‑FCU Program)
- “This wasn’t just a competition; it was a journey of discovering my strengths and weaknesses.” — Wei‑Chieh Chen (MONASH‑FCU Program)
- “Speak up, connect, and collaborate—you’ll meet future business partners from around the world.” — Tzu‑Ting Peng (Department of International Business)
The three‑week, fully immersive, English‑language EIA challenge far exceeded traditional classroom learning and provided a valuable experience in cross‑cultural collaboration and hands‑on entrepreneurship practice.
Feng Chia University’s Continued Commitment to Global Innovation Education
Since 2017, Feng Chia University has actively encouraged and supported students’ participation in EIA through pre‑departure training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and practical entrepreneurship experience. Moving forward, the university will continue investing in international innovation and entrepreneurship programs to nurture globally competitive talents capable of shining on the world stage.
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