ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
15., 22. & 23. March / 12.,13. & 19. April

Innovators Camp 2024

A Digital Future You Want

Take part in this innovation experience to develop the skills for solving today's challenges. Together.

Apply Now
Two people having fun innovating

Thematic Focus: SOCIAL INNOVATION x DIGITAL

"Technologies [..] are exponentially increasing their role, changing the current way of doing things, often working in combination to offer a dramatic evolution in these segments and further address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." — Dionisio et al. (2023)

Complex challenges call for collective solutions

The world is changing rapidly. Most of the long-term challenges we are facing today bring major social consequences with them: climate change, biodiversity loss, education, migration, or the ageing society.

It is no longer sufficient to solve complex challenges as stand-alone solutions. We need the cooperation of the public, politics, technology and the sciences.

100
Problems
101
Solutions
You
Take Part
INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS

Expect to work together in mixed teams from Zurich-based universities. Science-based, and free to create.

LEARNING-BY-DOING

A mix of expert inputs, peer feedback, coaching and a lot of hands-on teamwork.

CONNECTING

Connect with other students, change makers and role models from the social innovation ecosystem.

HAVE AN IMPACT

Understand how to innovate for social good by practically testing your prototype.

Unlock your potential for social innovation

The Innovators Camp is a unique innovation experience for students and researchers at Zurich-based universities, taking you from idea to implementation in just five weeks.

  • Discover your social innovation capabilities through a hands-on project
  • Gather tools to start solving interconnected, complex problems of the 21stcentury
  • Co-create solutions for real-world problems in an interdisciplinary team with students and researchers from other universities
Deadline may 22, 2022

Innovators Camp in short

Summary

Innovators Camp takes you from idea to implementation in just five weeks.

The city of Zürich is providing us with current, real-life challenges.

Learn about innovation and gather tools for 21st century life.

  • guided by experienced facilitators

  • inspired by peer-to-peer exchange

  • supported with a toolbox for personal development, innovation and implementation

Participation

Applications are open for researchers, as well as Bachelor and Master students from Zurich-based universities:
UZH, ZHdK, ETH, ZHAW, PHZH.


The next Innovators Camp is planned for spring 2026.

Deadline: to be announced.
Places are limited: first come, first serve.

Dates

In 2024

FR 15.3. from 12:00-17:00
(including Lunch, plus optional aperitif)

Experience & Connect
FR 22.3. from 13:00-17:00
SA 23.3. from 09:00-17:00
(optional "Meet & Cook" on FR Evening)

Define & Develop
FR 12.4. from 13:00-17:00
SA 13.4. from 09:00-17:00‍
CELEBRATIONFR 19.4. from 13:00-17:00
(including vegetarian/vegan aperitif)

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

“The biggest part of our digital transformation is changing the way we think.” — Simeon Preston

Impressions

people having fun building togetherlego mindstorm excerciseInnovators Camp personwoman at innovators campwoman with laptopgroup high fivemen at innovators camp
Social Workspace

We build together

The Innovators Camp will take place at ZKSD (Zurich Knowledge Center for Sustainable Development), a space created for sustainable projects in Zurich.

Address ZKSD: Hardstrasse 235, 8005 Zürich

This is where we all will team up, experiment, test and validate our concepts, supercharge our ideas for good and build tomorrow’s innovation!

ZKSD Inside the rooms

A unique partnership

The Innovators Camp is a joint initiative by two major universities in Zurich born out of one strong mission: Connecting the magic of creativity with the power of science to create a future we want.

UZH Innovation Hub LogoZHDK Logo

Organizers

Christa Herrmann
Christa Herrmann
Organizer ZHdK
Manuel Merki
Manuel Merki
Organizer UZH
Nuria Brüngger
Nuria Brüngger
Coordinator UZH
Maria Olivares
Maria Olivares
Lead UZH Innovation
Philipp Kotsopoulos
Philipp Kotsopoulos
Lead Z-Kubator

Partners

https://www.stride-learning.ch/
Stride supports personal, social and environmental transformations that lead us towards more sustainable and equitable societies.
https://www.reverse.ch
It's all connected: Innovative service design for products that people love (design thinking workshop facilitation).
https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/prd/en/index/urban-development/smart-city.html
Smart City Zurich promotes innovative projects within the city administration so that good ideas can be implemented.
https://www.innovation.uzh.ch/en.html
We will work with and visit successful startups & initiative to find out more about their journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will the Innovators Camp take place?

How much time do I need to invest?

Can I bring my own idea or do you provide challenges?

How much does it cost?

What are the selection criteria for participants?

Do you have another question? Feel free to contact us directly: info@innovation.uzh.ch

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