Universal Ai University (UAi) has announced the launch of an Entrepreneurship Center of Excellence aimed at integrating innovation and venture creation into its academic and research ecosystem.
The university said the centre has been established in academic collaboration with Florida State University and Southern Methodist University (SMU), Dallas, Texas. It is designed to support students, faculty, alumni and startups by providing access to academic expertise, research facilities, laboratories and student resources.
According to the university, the centre will function as a platform to promote entrepreneurial learning, incubation and industry engagement. It will also host global startups as resident members under the UAi Startup Launchpad programme to facilitate collaborative innovation.
UAi will organise its first flagship event under the new centre, the “UAi BigIdeas Student PitchFest”, on March 7. The event will allow students from various disciplines to present business ideas in a structured pitching format.
Dr Simon Mak, Founding Vice Chancellor of Universal Ai University, said the initiative aims to make entrepreneurship an integral part of the university experience by creating a framework that supports idea development and implementation.
Eric Liguori, Associate Dean at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, Florida State University, said the collaboration reflects a structured approach to nurturing innovation.
Dr Nader Jalili, Dean of the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering at SMU, said the centre represents a step toward strengthening technology-driven entrepreneurship among students.
The university stated that the initiative aligns with its focus on linking education, innovation and execution within a structured academic model.