Innovation Seminar «Holistic Sustainability Approach for Innovations»

MSc RENE CO-CREATION AND INNOVATION SEMINAR

«Holistic Sustainability Approach for Innovations»

Sant Cugat del Vallès, 25-26th of July 2016
 

Living Lab LOW3 is a platform for education, co-creation and innovation in the field of sustainable architecture and lifestyle at the ETSAV campus at Sant Cugat del Vallés, located in the Nearly Zero Energy Building LOW3.
(www.low3.upc.edu ; www.livinglab-low3.blogspot.com).

The co-creation seminars under the working title «Holistic Sustainability approach for Innovations» are organized as 1 to 3-day intensive workshops, linked to UPC and KIC PhD and Master School Programs. The specific thematic of each seminar is defined through the research focus of the participating students.

Objectives

Get known to the innovative concepts of UPC’s nearly zero energy buildings and renewable energy technologies through guided visits, presentations, exploration and analysis of the LOW3 solar house.

Understand and apply a holistic approach to sustainability through the visit of a neighbourhood project on energy efficiency and energy poverty, focusing on lifecycle and system thinking at city level.

Co-create in dynamic group sessions innovative product or service concepts for “a more sustainable urban life in 2050” using mind and concept maps, collective brainstorming, role play and similar techniques.

Discuss with invited experts about innovation in the field of renewable energies, social innovations and a holistic approach to sustainability.

Methodologies of Learning

Project-based Learning (PBL) and co-creation activities will be the essential methodologies applied in the seminars.

Co-creation activities will be based on short presentations, collective brainstorming, SWAT analysis, role play and similar techniques divided into a three-step process.

The Living Lab infrastructure offers a mixture between formal and informal learning environment, allowing the combination of creative small scale co-creation sessions together with a personal exchange within the experimental, research-related environment of an energy self-sufficient solar house.

A mixture of group work, individual participation in debates, co-creation sessions and explorative and experimental activities create a creative and inspiring working atmosphere.

Specific Seminar topics

Dependent on the profile of participants the seminar will be focused on specific subjects related to innovation ideas and projects of the participating students, or will be generic, introducing seminar topics linked to the LOW3 concept and related energy efficiency issues.

Intended Learning Outcomes 

Creativity of students will be fostered through the participation in co-creation processes applied to each individual project, enhancing the ability to think beyond boundaries and systematically explore and generate new ideas

Innovation skills will be trained enhancing students ability to use knowledge, ideas or technologies to create new or improved products, services, processes or business models.

Entrepreneurship skills will be enforced through the support of students in collectively developing their innovation ideas towards feasible business approaches.

Research skills will be trained through the project-based approach of the seminars, focused on the investigation of new venture creation and its validation through a crossdisciplinary analysis.

Intellectual transforming skills will be attended through transforming practical experiences at the Living Lab infrastructure into research problems and challenges within an experimental and non-formal learning environment.

Leadership skills will be fostered through the specific group dynamics at the Living Lab seminars based on co-creation techniques and accelerated decision-making processes.

Value Judgment of students will be enhanced through the individual and collective appreciation of ethical, scientific and sustainability challenges of each presented project.

Evaluation

50% participation in seminar activities / 50% final presentation and report

Recognition

Students receive a KIC / UPC-RENE diploma for their assistance to the seminars.

Organization and seminar team

Prof. Dr. Albert Cuchí, Prof. UPC, Academic responsible

Dr. Torsten Masseck, Director Living Lab LOW3

Laia Núñez, Collaborator Living Lab LOW3

Invited experts according to each thematic focus: Prof. Dani Calatayud (urbanist), Prof. Coque Claret (architect), Ricard Pardell (Valldoreix Green Power), Arqbag Association Members.

Date

25-26th of July 2016 – Duration: 2 days

Place

Living Lab LOW3, ETSAV, c/ Pere Serra 1, Sant Cugat del Vallès (Barcelona)

Participants

Students of KIC InnoEnergy MSc RENE

Preparation

Students attend the seminar with a basic knowledge about renewable energy technologies and will have to develop an innovation idea during the seminar.

More information

www.cisol.com.es
www.low3.upc.edu
www.livinglab-low3.blogspot.com
www.pasapaslesplanes.cat