ScreenME Podcast
The ScreenME Podcast is all about entrepreneurship, particularly within the creative and media industry.
Through her accessible, easy-to-understand approach, the host, Ulrike Rohn, engages in captivating conversations with individuals who bring inspiration and knowledge to the world of entrepreneurship, including start-up entrepreneurs and those dedicated to teaching the entrepreneurial mindset.
Hailing from Tallinn University, where Ulrike Rohn is Professor of Media Management and Media Economics, this podcasts caters to both students and teachers in the creative field and the media.
For university students, the ScreenME Podcast offers a platform to learn from inspiring role models who share their unique journeys into startup entrepreneurship. Some of these guests are recent graduates, providing relatable and practical insights for those embarking on their entrepreneurial endeavors.
For university lecturers and teachers, the ScreenME Podcast serves as a valuable resource to glean experiences, insights, and tricks for facilitating and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in students.
Tune in to explore the multifaceted world of entrepreneurship through engaging conversations that transcend the boundaries of academia and industry.
The ScreenME Podcast is brought to you by Tallinn University and it's Baltic Film Media and Arts School (BFM) and made possible through the EU-funded Horizon 2020 project on Screen Media Entrepreneurship, ''ScreenME'' (no 952156).
ScreenME Podcast
# 28: Translating between academia and industry. A talk with Ermo Säks (Tallinn University's BFM)
In this episode of the ScreenME Podcast, host Ulrike Rohn speaks with Ermo Säks, a PhD researcher at BFM and member of Tallinn University’s EXU (Enterprise x University) team, who brings nearly two decades of entrepreneurial and television-production experience into the academic world. Together, they explore why entrepreneurship education is becoming increasingly important for media students, drawing on examples such as the FilmEU Challenge and teaching practices at BFM.
The conversation dives into the broader question of why collaboration between academia and industry matters—not only with private sector companies but also with public and third-sector organisations. Ermo reflects on EU-level expectations that push universities toward stronger engagement with society and shares insights from his work with the MINT cluster, discussing how open researchers and companies truly are to collaboration, what bottlenecks persist, and what solutions might help bridge the gap.
With his background as a long-time TV producer, founder and CEO of a production company, director of major Estonian TV shows, and former entrepreneur in retail, Ermo offers a rare dual perspective. He describes how his career across sectors positions him as a kind of “translator” between academia and industry—someone who understands both worlds and sees the potential for innovation when they meet.
Key Quotes
- “Media innovation doesn't happen in isolation—it happens when people from different worlds start building things together.”
- “Entrepreneurial skills are no longer optional in the creative industries; they are part of how people navigate uncertainty.”
- “Universities have an incredible role to play in bridging research with practice, but we have to build these bridges deliberately.”
- “My work sits right between academia, media, and entrepreneurship—and that’s exactly where exciting things happen.”
- “Students don’t just need knowledge; they need the confidence and mindset to experiment, collaborate, and create impact.”
Keywords
Media entrepreneurship, Creative industries, Innovation ecosystems, University–industry collaboration, Entrepreneurial mindset, R&D partnerships, Academic–industry interfaces, Hybrid careers, Estonia, EXU (Entrepreneurship & Innovation)
Host: Ulrike Rohn
Sound engineer: Tanel Kadalipp (episode 1-14), Sangam Panta (episode 15 -
https://bfmentrepreneurhub.tlu.ee/screenme-podcast/
