An event celebrating the partnership between the National University of Georgia (SEU) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was held at SEU. The event focused on fostering collaboration in education and advancing the startup ecosystem, with discussions on future plans and the potential impact of the partnership.

Aleksandre Tsuladze, the Minister of Education, Science, and Youth Affairs of Georgia, addressed the audience, emphasizing the significance of the collaboration. He highlighted the importance of MIT’s involvement in Georgia’s academic and entrepreneurial landscape, describing it as a pivotal step in strengthening the country’s startup ecosystem.

“In a highly competitive global environment, the partnership with MIT, a pioneer in innovation and transformation, marks a significant advancement for Georgia. This collaboration provides SEU’s young innovators with a unique opportunity to implement groundbreaking ideas in the fields of innovation and technology,” Tsuladze stated.

The event featured remarks from SEU Rector Gia Kavtelishvili, MIT Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship Director Bill Aulet, and Deputy Chairman of the Georgian Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA) Levan Darsalia. It was attended by rectors of Georgian universities, public and private sector representatives, and other distinguished guests.

The partnership between SEU and MIT was formalized in September 2024 through a signed agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation in education, research, and startup ecosystem development. As part of this collaboration, SEU has joined the global MIT Martin Trust Center’s Entrepreneurship Educators Network. This network seeks to elevate the standards of entrepreneurial education worldwide, with a focus on training highly skilled entrepreneurs equipped to tackle global challenges.

Additionally, SEU has announced an open competition for a fully sponsored entrepreneurship education training program at MIT. The program is open to SEU academic staff in business and technology fields, as well as individuals who may become SEU-affiliated academic staff in the future. Selected candidates will participate in MIT’s renowned training program, which covers the "24 Steps of Entrepreneurship" and "15 Startup Tactics." Participants will also engage with MIT’s startup accelerators and programs.

The training is scheduled to take place from January 13 to January 17, 2025, at MIT.

Founded in 1861, MIT is ranked as the world’s top university in both overall performance and technological fields, according to the latest QS World University Rankings. It is globally recognized as a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, with a high number of successful startups originating from its ecosystem.