ENGAGE.EU Open Innovation Labs
ENGAGE.EU’s mission is to drive societal change through innovation and collaboration. To achieve this, we are creating societal impact by strengthening, developing, and streamlining our societal engagement actions and strategies through a network of open innovation labs. These ENGAGE.EU Open Innovation Labs are dynamic and collaborative spaces designed to foster co-creation among diverse stakeholders in so-called Knowledge Creating Teams, including students, researchers, innovators, companies, citizens’ initiatives, and policymakers. Each partner university has its own lab. You can read more about them on this page.
Role and Function
The Open Innovation Labs serve several key functions:
Co-Creation and Collaboration
They provide a platform for Knowledge Creating Teams to work together on innovative solutions to societal challenges.
Educational Innovation
The labs create opportunities for students and new ways to make societal impact and, through experiential learning, prepare them for future professional and personal challenges.
Stakeholder Engagement and Societal Impact
By involving multiple stakeholder groups, the labs address local societal challenges and foster mission-driven innovation and entrepreneurship.
Activity formats to work together
The labs host various formats to work together on innovative solutions to societal challenges:
- Collaboration Circle to define societal challenges from a multi-stakeholder perspective
- Expedition+ to co-create user-centred solutions to societal challenges through a Design Thinking methodology
- Impact Catalyst Studio to bridge the ideation phase with European R&I principles and match them with existing funding sources
- Entrepreneurial Pathways to drive mission-oriented innovation through entrepreneurial activity
ENGAGE.EU Labs of each partner university
Each partner university within the ENGAGE.EU network has established its own Open Innovation Lab, tailored to its strengths and strategic outlook. Click on the cards to read more about the lab of the respective partner university.
We leverage interdisciplinary academic expertise, working in co-creation with societal partners to foster broad prosperity. Our four academic collaborative centres focus on climate and energy, digital health and mental well-being, an inclusive labour market, and effective governance of broad prosperity. We engage in expeditions, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, public lectures, and student clinics.
Read more: Program for Broad Prosperity | Tilburg University
We promote participatory and collaborative teaching that sparks creativity and active student engagement. Our focus is on innovative learning environments, new technologies, and experiential learning. Past activities include Expedition+, the Online Exchange Initiative, Signature Courses, Summer School, PhD events, and Socetal Chapter meetings.
Based in both Helsinki and Vaasa, we provide growth-oriented support services to our resident start-ups, scale-ups, non-profits, and individuals through mentoring, workshops, community-building activities, and access to resources. We focus on providing pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration programs, building entrepreneurial communities locally and on the EU level, and societal engagement. ENGAGE.EU activities include Entrepreneurial Pathways, Slush Week Experience (Slush side events), and tailored support programs. Click here for more information about our operations.
Contact: hankenbusinesslab@hanken.fi
We co-create knowledge to support stakeholders in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Our focus is on social, environmental, and economic sustainability. Past activities include Expedition+, project development, and consultations.
The NHH Connect is an AI–accelerated, multi-purpose open innovation arena that brings together students, businesses, policymakers, and civil society following the quadruple helix approach. It hosts lifelong learning activities, executive education, and structured co-creation sessions with external partners. Its first flagship program, TILT-Lab – an externally funded, 3+ year collaborative initiative with partners in Bergen and Vestland – mobilizes students for entrepreneurship and connects them to the regional innovation ecosystem.
Contact: engage.eu@nhh.no
We strengthen the university’s social impact through challenge-based and mission-driven collaborations. Our focus is on co-creating knowledge and solutions to societal challenges through interdisciplinary and international teams. Past Activities include Expedition+, Impact Catalyst Studio, community engagement, and interdisciplinary projects.
Contact: openinnovationlab@luiss.it
We strengthen knowledge and technology transfer to support transformation processes. Our focus is on regional collaboration, societal impact, and innovation. Past activities include Expedition+, Collaboration Circles, ScaleUp Clinics, training courses and public engagement formats.
Contact: derkau@uni-mannheim.de
We promote innovation and entrepreneurship to address societal challenges. Our focus is on fostering entrepreneurial thinking and innovative solutions. Past activities include Collaboration Circles and Entrepreneurial Pathways.
Contact: bibiana.jou@esade.edu; josep.alias@esade.edu
We address societal challenges by fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and society. Through co-creation, entrepreneurial thinking, and innovative research, we drive societal
impact and knowledge transfer. Our past activities include Expedition+, Entrepreneurial Pathways, interdisciplinary projects, and outreach initiatives.
Contact: rina.gjana@wu.ac.at