ExcErpt from

Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.

KAUFFMAN Thoughtbook

2009

Fourth in an ongoing series, the Kauffman Thoughtbook 2009 captures what we are thinking, learning, and discovering about education, entrepreneurship, and advancing innovation. This collection of more than forty essays is written by the talented Kauffman Foundation associates, partners, and experts who are pursuing the principles and vision set by our founder, Ewing Kauffman. REQUEST YOUR COMPLIMENTARY COPY AT

kauffman.org

2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.

unleash Ideas, unlock Passion

Ya n J U n q I
Vice Chairwoman, The Standing Committee of the 11th national Peoples Congress; Chairwoman, entrepreneurship Foundation for Graduates

at the national Science and Technology Conference in early 2006, Chinese President Hu Jintao made a solemn statement to the world: China will be built into an innovative nation in about fifteen years. This grand vision, which greatly inspired the countrys intellectuals and young people, also propelled the august 2006 establishment of the Entrepreneurship foundation for Graduates (EfG). EfGs mission: encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship to improve the entrepreneurial environment; promoting commercialization of scientific and technological breakthroughs to help accelerate education reform; and inspiring innovative minds to cultivate creative and entrepreneurial talents. EfG is aiding graduates entrepreneurial practices and working for change that will create a favorable entrepreneurial environment in China. and the effort seems to be working. In just the two years since EfGs founding, universities have taken the lead, college students have enthusiastically played an active role, faculties have given full support, and the initiative has gained widespread public favor. under Chinas existing system, promoting graduate entrepreneurship through innovation presents an enormous challenge. Yet, the EfG has accumulated management and service experience by diligently exploring new approaches and
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Excerpt from Kauffman Thoughtbook 2009. 2008 by the Ewing marion Kauffman foundation. all rights reserved.

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practices, and its leaders have been deeply moved and compelled forward by the courage, wisdom, and vigor of the young. Steps Toward a Culture Shift along the way, those of us involved with EfG have realized that innovation can more quickly gain a foothold in an entrepreneurship-friendly and failuretolerating culture. We are working to build an environment in which the whole of society understands, encourages, guides, and supports entrepreneurship. a major step toward this goal was the EfG-sponsored Shanghai Entrepreneurship WeekInnovative Shanghai, Entrepreneurial Campus, held november 611, 2007, and inspired by successful entrepreneurship week events in the united States and the united Kingdom. During the week, Shanghai university students participated in events that included an opening ceremony, an Entrepreneurship and the future summit, entrepreneurship-themed forums co-sponsored by ten universities, and an entrepreneurial idea contest, in which students from fifty-six higher education institutions participated. This inaugural event acted as a stimulant that unleashed entrepreneurial enthusiasm. nearly 10,000 students took part in the on-site entrepreneurship forums and about 20,000 joined the entrepreneurial idea contest through the Internet. In all, more than 100,000 students learned about and supported Entrepreneurship Week through the Internet, television, and newspapers.

Entrepreneurial leaders are encouraging Chinese society to be more tolerant, giving students an opportunity to unlock their passion and tap into their full potential.

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ultimately, Entrepreneurship Week became a platform for promoting a societal culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. It precipitated the EfG and the Global Entrepreneurship Week planning team signing the agreement for EfG to host Global Entrepreneurship Week/China, an initiative that is bound to embrace creative ideas and nurture entrepreneurship among the young. accordingly, the EfG finds its role in this global effort. Tang min, Deputy Secretary-general of the China Reform and Development foundation, has stated that university students need entrepreneurial education, culture, and an environment that will plant entrepreneurship in their minds and foster it with good soil. as a former university professor with firsthand experience of students high entrepreneurial aspirations and longing for innovation, I quite agree with him. Entrepreneurial leaders are encouraging Chinese society to be more tolerant, giving students an opportunity to unlock their passion and tap into their full potential. EfG is at the forefront, bridging the gap for those who are dedicated to entrepreneurial endeavors and helping graduates make their own contributions to building an innovative country.

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