ZUrich, switzerland
31.03.–01.04. & 05.–06.05. 2023

Innovators Camp 2023

Create a future you want

An innovation experience to develop the skills for solving today's challenges. Together.

Two people having fun innovating

Thematic Focus 2023: SOCIAL INNOVATION

"The [..] stresses affecting our world are just like tectonic stresses: they’re deep, invisible, yet immensely powerful; they’re building slowly; and they can release their force suddenly without warning." 

Thomas Homer-Dixon

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 prototype implementation.

Two weekend blocks starting on Friday for lunch and ending on Saturday with drinks.

Enjoy good company and find new people to innovate #bettertogether.

Participation

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

Applications are now closed for the 2023 edition.

Deadline: 26.02.2023.
Places are limited: first come, first serve.

Dates

Innovators Camp takes place in two blocks in spring 2023.

BLOCK 1
FR 31.3. from 12:00-17:00
SA 1.4. from 09:00-17:00

EXCURSION (optional)
FR 21.4. from 13:00-16:15

Visiting two social innovation projects in Zurich


BLOCK 2
FR 5.5. from 13:00-17:00
SA 6.5. from 09:00-17:00

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Impressions

people having fun building togetherInnovators Camp personlego mindstorm excercisewoman with laptopwoman at innovators campgroup high five
Social Workspace

We build together

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

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
Maria Olivares
Maria Olivares
Lead UZH Innovation
Philipp Kotsopoulos
Philipp Kotsopoulos
Lead Z-Kubator

Partners

https://www.socialfabric.ch/
A community sewing atelier that offers education to tailors with refugee backgrounds (part of the excursion).
https://sens-suisse.ch/
As a national platform, Social Entrepreneurship Switzerland (SENS) represents and promotes impact-oriented businesses through knowledge transfer & networking, startup programs and consulting.
https://www.intercomestibles.ch/
Democratically run company wich is majority-owned by its employees, provides us with regional beverages (part of the excursion).
https://www.reverse.ch
It's all connected: Innovative service design for products that people love.
https://zham-homecare.ch/about-us/
Role model company that reduces waste with a refillable, concentrated soap (sponsor).
https://www.stride-learning.ch/
Stride supports personal, social and environmental transformations that lead us towards more sustainable and equitable societies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will the Innovators Camp take place?

How much time do I need to participate?

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

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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