Can universities, funding agencies together produce more entrepreneurs?

Can universities encourage entrepreneurs and how can funding agencies collaborate?

e.g. Netherlands -- program to add entrepreneurial courses to any university program to qualify for incubator programs.

Societies that do this well are able to connect the humanities and arts ideas with the engineering / technical / sciences. Breaking down the silos.

We don't know where the next big idea will come from. Let's not limit ourselves. The very successful have a variety of backgrounds.

Teaching entrepreneurship -- business plan competitions, more involvement from industry.

Entrepreneurs are resourceful. Leaders -- entrepreneurs vs. management. Lenders need confidence that money will be managed properly. Accelerator centers and incubators are helping now.

Entrepreneurs have to take initiative and exercise drive. It is a mindset.

Terry Mathews -- find very young people passionate and willing to work very hard -- he will provide money and an office and a year -- and see what develops. He has about dozen people. Some will succeed.

Serial entrepreneurs -- a culture of innovation (e.g. in Waterloo). An entrepreneurial eco-system can develop. Best kept secret -- getting the word out.

Funding -- public and private sectors -- challenge

Sharing of ideas -- e.g. social networking in the business culture -- now natural for young people. Companies need to realize this reality and encourage it -- innovation can result.

 Universities -- could encourage a culture of risk-taking. Teaching students to learn from failure and rejection. Success in entrepreneurship requires an understanding and management of risk. There is functional knowledge and process required. Success requires learning and understanding. There is a difference between a small one-person venture and a larger multi-person venture.

E.G. Green Energy Act and funding -- is it possible to take some of the funding and use it to encourage entrepreneurial ventures. This is happening -- Innovation Demonstration Project -- $30 million was initially allocated for it. It has been so successful that another $30 million was allocated last week.

Big ideas can start small, but a big vision and help (venture capital and more) is often needed. Old school -- trained to be good employees. To do it on your own requires vision and drive.

The social networking technology has made it easier to expand on "who you know" in addition to "what you know". Often small amounts of money can create winners. Government often has a fire hose for watering, where often a garden hose or a watering can are better.

Entrepreneurial ideas are everywhere -- no just in high tech.

Big government is always behind the curve in technology.