IGNITION – Sparking Ideas!

Small Business – Big Ideas

Have you ever wished to discuss and develop your vision for the future, the challenges of your industry, and the tasks of our time with many young, bright minds? To brainstorm, develop ideas, and build solutions together?

Beyond the borders of disciplines – and countries?

Young Bright Minds

That’s exactly what IGNITION offers: Four European universities have developed a teaching format where our students work together with creative start-ups, small business owners, and non-profit organisations on practical tasks and the big questions of our time.

The magic word: "Challenge Based Learning"

Here’s how it works: The idea: Experts from the region meet international students and together develop ideas for the future. This is a familiar format for large companies, but what about for small and medium-sized enterprises? Or for small businesses with little time and limited resources? For start-ups? Because small businesses, start-ups, and creatives are among the most innovative forces in society, along with universities. We bring them together to work on the challenges – the "Challenges" – of our time!

Think local – act global

How does a start-up from Bremen connect with students from Ireland, the Netherlands, or Portugal? How does a creative from Portugal collaborate with media students from Bremen? In our "Digital Challenge Lab"! Here, fresh ideas for the future are developed using methods of blended learning, design thinking, and human-centred design, supported and accompanied by the lecturers from our universities. Digital teaching enables the international teams to work together over a semester. A highlight is a week of in-person attendance for all students!

What Can I Do?

You are our experts: You know the challenges of your industry. In our workshop on 19 September 2024, you will formulate the challenges that students from the Netherlands, Ireland, Portugal, Germany, and other countries will work on together internationally in the summer semester of 2025.

How Can I Participate?

Sign up for the workshop on September 19, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM by clicking on "Sign Up Here" at the top.

What Happens Next?

Your "job" in the summer semester of 2025: As our experts, you will provide students with tips – quite literally – from your office. In the "Digital Challenge Lab," you will support students with your knowledge as needed and according to your own availability, and you will review the final results. In return, you will receive a wealth of fresh ideas, prototypes, and suggestions that can serve as inspiration for your own business. Best of all: you will connect with many young, bright minds and partners in the network. Perhaps the most important investment in the future.