Location

Lisbon, Porto, Portugal

Program Description

This four-week program is designed to immerse you in creativity, ideation, design thinking, and entrepreneurship through hands-on, team-based experiences. You’ll collaborate in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, gaining insights from world-class experts in design, business, engineering, and venture creation.

As part of this course, you’ll explore what it takes to transform an idea into a viable business venture. The program emphasizes real-world business modeling, creativity, and innovation—all while working in a fast-paced, international environment.

Faculty from James Madison University and Bridgewater College School of Business will guide you through this journey, ensuring you develop practical skills and global perspectives that set you apart.

The European Innovation Academy (EIA) Experience

The heart of your experience takes place during three weeks in Porto at the University of Porto College of Business, where you’ll join the European Innovation Academy, the world’s largest entrepreneurship summer program.

Here’s what makes EIA extraordinary:

• 350–400 participants from over 50 universities and nearly 40 nationalities
• 80 student-driven startups launched during the program

Guidance from 70+ mentors and speakers, including serial entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and leaders from Intel, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, and more

This is where your ideas come to life! You’ll pitch, prototype, and collaborate in an environment that mirrors the intensity of Silicon Valley—on the shores of Portugal.

Learn more about the program.

15-Day Program Calendar

Location Description

Lisbon—Portugal’s sun-soaked capital—sits along the Tagus River where historic neighborhoods meet cutting-edge innovation hubs. Known for its pastel-colored buildings, iconic yellow trams, and panoramic viewpoints, Lisbon is a city that blends tradition with modern energy.

Porto—a UNESCO World Heritage city perched along the Douro River and the Atlantic coast—is Portugal’s cultural and economic heartbeat in the north. Known for its colorful hillside neighborhoods, ornate bridges, and world-famous port wine, Porto blends old-world charm with modern innovation districts.

Portugal is a rising hub for technology, tourism, and creative industries. Its efficient transportation networks make it easy to explore vibrant urban centers, coastal escapes, and scenic countryside during your stay.

Summer in Portugal means warm, sunny days and breezy evenings. Known for its safety, hospitality, and high quality of life, Portugal offers an inspiring backdrop for academic work, cultural immersion, and unforgettable adventures.

Director

Miguel Baltazar | baltazmbb@jmu.edu | Hart School

Maria Lugo | mlugo@bridgewater.edu | College of Business, Bridgewater College

Accommodations

Lisbon (Week 1): Double rooms

Porto (Weeks 2-4): Large apartment-style units equipped with shared kitchens, living area, and TV. Other amenities include lounges, gym, rooftop pool, movie room, and 24/7 security.

Think modern student living—European style!

Additional Items to Consider

JMU Hospitality Management major and CoB Entrepreneurship minor students get HM 490: Special Studies in Hospitality and Tourism Management via elective courses:

• Entrepreneurship & Tourism Ventures in Portugal
• Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the European Union

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.0

Open to first-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students in all majors

Open to non-JMU students

No foreign language experience is required