UZH Innovathon

Why UZH Innovathon?

The UZH Innovathon is a platform for open innovation that connects research insights with real world challenges. It leverages the creativity of students to develop breakthrough ideas to foster innovative solutions.

The Innovathon convenes researchers and students across disciplines. Cross-disciplinary exchange is facilitated through the UZH Digital Society Initiative, which engages over 400 researchers across the UZH faculties and actively curates research communities in areas relevant to digitalization, spanning from work to mobility, democracy and sustainability.

The Innovathon offers a unique opportunity for all participants to actively engage in innovation, focus on future-oriented topics and to build a valuable network with a dynamic innovation ecosystem.

How does it work?

The UZH Innovathon is a novel course offered to Master and PhD students at UZH. In each course 30-50 students develop innovative concepts guided by real world challenges proposed by partners from industry, governmental organisations, private research institutes and NGOs. Students apply to join the course and are selected based on their motivation and to allow for interdisciplinary teams.

During one month students go through a process from discovery to pitch and reflection. Engaged researchers support the students in diving into the interdisciplinary nature of the challenge topics and serve as mentors during the concept development.

The Innovathon weekend makes up a centerpiece of the course. During 48h the student teams work in an inspiring atmosphere to develop ideas and prototypes to test their concepts with relevant stakeholders.

At the final pitch event all teams present their validated concepts to an expert jury consisting of researchers and challenge partner representatives.

A guided innovation process

To facilitate the progress of all teams during the idea development, the students are equipped with a manual and supported by experienced innovation facilitators.

The manual guides students through the different steps with hands-on tools on developing and selecting ideas, asking the right questions, getting valuable feedback and for finishing a discussion and move on.

Join as Student

As a participating student, the Innovathon offers a unique opportunity to:

• – make your ideas count by developing innovative solutions to real-life challenges proposed by industry partners;
• – learn from researchers and peers in other disciplines, and develop invaluable innovation skills;
• – grow your network with like-minded peers, researchers, and practitioners.

Join the Innovathon: The Digitalization of Mobillity in Fall 2024.

Join as Researcher

Are you a researcher at UZH in the area of digitalization research? Would you like to gather experience in rapid idea development? We collaborate with the Digital Society Initiative to involve researchers to contribute with expert input and act as mentors for the student during the idea development.

We are currently making plans for the next Innovathons. Get in contact with us if you are interested in contributing!

Join as Challenge partner

Participating challenge partners benefit from:

• – access to the latest research insights and a wealth of creativity on a current challenge, at a minimal time commitment.
• – a unique opportunity to exchange with the next generation of talent
• – stronger connections with the local innovation ecosystem.

Get in touch with us to learn more about your role as Challenge partner.

What happens to the ideas after the Innovathon?

The UZH Innovathon is just the starting point for new collaborations, projects and innovations.

At the wrap-up event following the final presentations all stakeholders are invited to discuss different routes to build on the inspiring new ideas developed by the students during the course. Ideas may be picked up by either challenges partners, students and/or researchers and inspire the directions of their respectice projects. In general, continued collaboration between the involved parties is encouraged.