Triple E Awards 2023: How Europe’s universities could gain visibility — and what to watch for
- ›The Triple E Awards recognise entrepreneurship and engagement in higher education with regional and global categories.
- ›Submission for the 2023 cycle closed on 23 January 2023 with a two stage selection process and a ceremony in Barcelona in June 2023.
- ›European awards include seven categories across institutional, individual and initiative levels and there are three global awards.
- ›The Awards are organised by ACEEU, which also provides specialised accreditation for entrepreneurial and engaged universities.
- ›The event is co-located with the ACEEU Stakeholders Forum and the Triple Helix Conference, promising broad networking but not automatic proof of institutional impact.
Triple E Awards 2023: What they are and why universities apply
The Triple E Awards recognise efforts by universities and related organisations to advance entrepreneurship and community engagement. Launched and run by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities or ACEEU, the Awards operate regionally and culminate in a global ceremony for category winners. For the 2023 cycle organisers invited entries up to 23 January 2023 and planned an awards week in Barcelona from 26 to 29 June 2023. The organisers position the Awards as a way for academics and institutions to enhance credibility and build networks with leaders from around the world.
Structure, categories and regional approach
The Triple E Awards are implemented regionally across four parts of the world: Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific. Each region runs its own competition in multiple categories. Winners from those regional competitions can also contend for global awards that span all regions. The regional design acknowledges differing development levels of university third mission activity across geographies.
| European categories (2023) | Level | Notes |
| Entrepreneurial University of the Year | Institutional | Top institutional recognition for entrepreneurship strategy and impact |
| Engaged University of the Year | Institutional | Institutional recognition for community and societal engagement |
| Male Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year | Individual | Leadership in entrepreneurship from a male individual |
| Female Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year | Individual | Leadership in entrepreneurship from a female individual |
| Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year | Individual | Teaching and capacity building in entrepreneurship |
| Community Engagement Initiative of the Year | Initiative | Project or programme with demonstrable community engagement |
| SDG Initiative of the Year | Initiative | Initiative tied to Sustainable Development Goals impact |
| Global categories (2023) | Level | Notes |
| Green University of the Year | Institutional | Institutional sustainability and environmental impact |
| Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team of the Year | Team | A team delivering standout entrepreneurship or innovation results |
| Innovation Ecosystem of the Year | Initiative | A wider ecosystem effort linking university, industry and other actors |
Who can apply and how winners are chosen
Submission was open to higher education institutions, including colleges, and organisations clearly linked to universities such as external technology transfer offices or incubators. The selection follows a two stage process. First a shortlist of the top five entries in each category and region is announced. Shortlisted entrants then submit additional material which forms the basis for final ranking and the selection of winners.
| Key date | 2023 timeline | Purpose |
| Final submission deadline | 23 January 2023 | Close of general application window |
| Shortlist notification | 27 February 2023 | Top five in each category and region announced |
| Additional material deadline (shortlisted) | 24 March 2023 | Submissions used to rank finalists |
| Award ceremony | 26-29 June 2023 | Global Award Ceremony in Barcelona, Spain |
Event format, co-located meetings and audience
The global award ceremony was scheduled for Barcelona and organised alongside two larger gatherings: the ACEEU Stakeholders Forum and the Triple Helix Conference. The joint event carried the theme Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities for Sustainable Development. Organisers expected more than 400 university leaders, managers, professionals and academics from over 50 countries. Those co-located activities were intended to combine award visibility with opportunities for networking, peer learning and policy discussion.
Who runs the Awards and what they mean to institutions
The Awards are organised by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities or ACEEU. The organisation also offers a dedicated accreditation scheme that evaluates and recognises universities for their entrepreneurship and community engagement. ACEEU frames the awards and accreditation as tools to promote cultural change inside universities and to make their third mission activities more visible to stakeholders.
Benefits for applicants and realistic limits
Winning or being shortlisted can raise a university's profile, help attract partners and validate internal efforts. The Awards also provide finalists with networking opportunities and a platform to exchange practice across regions. At the same time awards are signals not guarantees. Recognition does not automatically translate into sustained funding, wider adoption of practices, or measurable long term social impact. Selection processes favour initiatives that are documentable and presentable which can create a bias toward better resourced or well marketed applicants.
Practical next steps for potential applicants
Institutions considering future submissions should document strategy, outputs and evidence of impact. Clear links to community partners or measurable SDG outcomes strengthen entries in initiative categories. Teams should prepare concise narratives supported by data and third party endorsements to survive the shortlist and second stage review. ACEEU and the Triple E website provide application guidance and category definitions.
For the 2023 edition the immediate deadline has passed. Institutions planning to engage in future cycles can monitor the Triple E Awards and ACEEU websites for updated timelines and category changes, and consider ACEEU membership or accreditation if they want deeper engagement.
Further reading and sources
Primary details on categories, dates and eligibility were published by the EIC Community announcement on 19 January 2023 and by ACEEU. Additional contextual information about ACEEU and the Triple E Awards was retrieved from ACEEU public materials and the Triple E Awards website.