Fit for Future

Projects "Innovation & Translation"

Promoting student entrepreneurship

In order to encourage a more entrepreneurial attitude among students, various measures were initiated and implemented under Fit for Future: 

  • At www.unibe.ch/innovation, students can now find a compilation of all support programmes, activities and courses related to entrepreneurship and innovation, including the fields of impact and social innovation 
  • With the WhatsApp group ‘Think&Do@UniBE’, a social media channel has been created in order to be able to better communicate the services to students 
  • The founding of the Bern Student Entrepreneurship Club (ECB) was initiated and financially supported, as well as the PharmaCamp initiative.  
  • An initial coordination meeting with relevant student associations and initiatives was organised. This is to take place once a year.  

Innovation Guide

 Research: Innovation Guide - University of Bern (unibe.ch)

The Innovation Guide provides an overview of the most important support options for innovative and entrepreneurial projects at the University of Bern and in the local ecosystem.

Ideas Lab ("Ideenlabor")

Ideenlabor (Idea's Lab) - University of Bern

As part of Fit for Future, the "Ideenlabor" (Ideas Lab) has been established. It is a project- and creative space on Fabrikstrasse that is available free of charge to anyone studying, researching or working at the university. With its modular interior, central location and cozy atmosphere, it encourages inspiration, collaboration and exchange. 

  • The Ideenlabor can be booked for project workshops (up to 20 people), for small events (up to 30 people) or for temporary exhibitions. 
  • Innovative teaching and learning: Use the Ideenlabor to design more interactive teaching and learning formats while integrating digital tools. This is also where interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary projects can flourish. 
  • Student hub for co-creation and exchange: Develop and promote innovative ideas together with other students: Outside of scheduled events, the Ideenlabor serves as a social hub for spontaneous meet-ups, collaborative work or for student association meetings. 

Furthermore, the process for (temporarily) renting out university infrastructure to UniBE start-ups was standardised and the further options for co-working spaces and office space in the Canton of Bern were publicised in the ‘Innovation Guide’.  

Lab-as-a-Service

Laboratory space and general areas for innovative projects are limited. The aim is therefore to examine new possibilities in order to be able to offer start-ups at the University of Bern sufficient laboratory space. The processes for renting laboratories to spin-offs are being clarified and guidelines developed. Currently, the Economic Development Agency is reviewing the feasibility study on laboratory infrastructure.

Social innovation

In the social sciences and humanities, the focus is less on product development and more on services that are intended to have an impact on society. Social innovation is to be promoted even more strongly at the University of Bern. The first step is to map existing funding programs for Swiss universities. Based on this, possible funding initiatives will be proposed in a second step. Discussions are ongoing with the CDE for a ‘Social Innovators Residency’ (SIR) pilot project (June - Dec 2024) to promote knowledge transfer; the University is also in dialogue with the BFH on the topic of ‘Master's theses for UniBE start-ups’.

 

Status: November 2024