iGEM KU Leuven ’s Post

This event brought me new insight into urban logistics. a new experience, and a new practical challenge to increase sustainability in urban mobility. Let's see the results of the hackathon competition in the end. #xamk #mobility #urban_logistics #innovation

This is a project that is not only an absolute pleasure to be part of, but carries applied importance and meaning.

The after-movie is out, and when you see your efforts condensed in under 2 min movie, it seems wild. 🤯 Don't get me wrong, my guy Fran Salomon did such a great job, and he became my buddy to go to with creative visions I can trust. 💯 As an event planner, finding gratification in those in between, not-so-visible and glamorous moments brings me gratification in the long term; 1. Seeing the Vision come together ✨ When I set out to create the 2nd edition of Specialefestivalen, I knew I could succeed but still felt frightened. Sounds crazy, you might think: "How's it possible to fear your own success?" The more I reflect, the more I realize that fear of good is about withholding our gifts from the world, and that’s something we simply can’t afford. Leading Specialefestivalen didn’t just mean organizing an event; it meant taking on the power—and responsibility—to shape a creative vision. I knew I wanted a festival where knowledge and art could flourish side by side, blending business, networking, and creativity into one space. When we set out to create Specialefestivalen with my team Nora Sørensen, Ira Isabella Jacobsen, Dóra Kilvinger, Iskra Dinko, Thomas Aaboe Fredholm and Marieta Ivankova, in the previous year, we knew it had to be more than just a series of presentations. It had to be a platform where ideas merge, perspectives challenge each other, and the next generation of thinkers feels heard. 🌍 And that's where my second energy booster comes from; 2. Watching each presenter step up, seeing disciplines blend in surprising ways, and feeling the energy of genuine curiosity—it was a reminder of how powerful knowledge-sharing can be. Thank you to every presenter, attendee, and supporter who made this possible. Your courage, curiosity, and openness have set a new standard. Let’s keep inspiring, collaborating, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible! 🌟 So, to everyone who feels their ideas are too much or too wild, know this: trust yourself and flow with it. When people say it’s impossible, just remember—there will always be someone who believes in you, and if no one else, then you are that SOMEONE. Oh, and thirdly; 3. Seeing my colleagues, attendees and students being moved, encouraged, and pushed to go out there and explore their own passions, face their fears and do that step they were postponing for so long. Awaken that inner hype woman, inner hype man—they’re in there, waiting to cheer you on. This world needs us to dream big, share boldly, and create fearlessly. 🌍🌟 Let's go! #Specialefestivalen2024 #TrustTheVision #Inspiration #CreativityUnlocked #FestivalOfIdeas #Specialefestivalen2024 #Inspiration #NextGenLeaders

🤝 Collaboration as second nature 🌐 In this modern, connected world, collaboration is a necessity for universities. Still, working with outside parties does not come natural to many of them. But at TU/e, collaboration is such an integral part of our culture that we never really talk about it. But in this article, we will. Read on and find out how TU/e has been an ‘Open University’ from the start and what it has brought us. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eeftF4XJ #TUe #TUeAlumni #Partnerships #Collaboration #Innovation

🎉 A Belated but Thrilled Announcement! 🎉 Although my birthday coincides with the #AOMConference every year, I'm a bit late with this post, but I just had to share my excitement and honor at participating in the X-Culture Xackathon! 🚀 Together with my wonderful colleagues Marjaana Gunkel, Saloni Sinha and Wendy Farrell, Ph.D., we developed an intriguing study titled "Does Responsible Management Education Matter? Integrating RME into University Curricula." Our goal is to capture the global voice of students on this critical issue. 🌍 Our study will focus on questions like: - What criteria are decisive when choosing a university? - What skills do students want to acquire? - What subjects should be included in the curriculum? And the question I find particularly fascinating: 👉 Do students believe that entrepreneurial success is significantly driven by sustainable management? 🌱 We are eagerly looking forward to sharing our findings with you! 👉 A huge thank you to Wendy Farrell, Ph.D. for the fantastic organization of the #Xackathon in Chicago and to Vas Taras for the opportunity to be part of this great event. And, of course, a big thank you to all my colleagues for the inspiring exchange! At Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), we are also deeply engaged in exploring how to motivate students worldwide - acknowledging cultural differences - to understand the importance of sustainable transformation in their careers. In September our #11thRMEResearchConference takes place in Berlin, if you are interested in sharing your experience and expertise, here you find more information: https://lnkd.in/gYW_zJUJ 🔗 Let's drive the conversation around Responsible Management Education in universities forward - it’s the key to entrepreneurial success for a green and just world where we can all live in prosperity and peace. 🌍💚 #XCulture #PRME #ResponsibleManagementEducation #Sustainability #Innovation #SustainableFuture #Prosperity #Peace

International Conference on Thinking  We are on the edge of what? The International Conference on Thinking (ICOT) is an internationally renowned multidisciplinary event held every couple of years in different cities around the world, attracting a diverse group of leading people, both international and local, from a range of industries and disciplines. ICOT aims to help educators, business and creative professionals to provoke, challenge, learn, and discuss the many forms of thinking and its application, in creating new ideas and solving problems including those related to business and global issues. This all-inclusive inspiring 5-day program will provide participants the opportunity to: - Network & reconnect at the Welcome function & Celebration event (The Lume) - Hear from and interact with world class speakers - Join interactive Challenge groups - Participate in Offsite learning journeys, within Melbourne and its surrounds, led by industry experts to:  Cultural and Arts precincts Science and Medical tech hubs Leading sports facilities An array of culinary experiences Cultural exploration of Indigenous heritage The theme of the Melbourne ICOT is: We are on the edge of what?  If we accept that it’s part of living in our ever changing world to expect the unexpected, how can this be reframed from challenges to opportunities? We can’t accurately predict the future, but with clear, critical, creative thinking, and sharing new ideas and putting them into action, a future for the greater good can be co-created! That is exactly what Melbourne ICOT is working towards and all presenters and participants can have a role in this!  "The future depends on what we do in the present." - Mahatma Ghandi https://lnkd.in/gA68Yhuq

NOW: ENoLL (European Network of Living Labs) OpenLivingLab Days 2024 in Timișoara, Romania It was a fantastic experience to once again participate in ENoLL's OpenLivingLab Days! Together with my wonderful colleagues Beata Jałocha, Monika Jedynak, and Dorota Rak from the Campus Living Lab at Jagiellonian University, we had the opportunity to present our research, "The Small Campus Facing Grand Societal Challenges: A Case Study of the Campus Living Lab." Our presentation focused on how campus-based living labs, such as CaLiLab, play a critical role in addressing complex societal issues. We explored the lab’s innovative approaches, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and the use of cutting-edge methodologies like the quintuple helix model. We also highlighted how CaLiLab fosters systemic change and serves as a valuable framework for promoting sustainable development within academic environments. The event provided a fantastic platform for exchanging ideas and insights with leading experts in the field. Establishing and developing campus living labs is no small feat, and the discussions we had confirmed the importance of a dedicated track to further explore this topic. Special thanks to Holger Hoff, Anton Sentić Sentic, and Trui Steen for sharing your valuable insights! #ENOLL, #OpenLivingLab, #CaLiLab, #CampusLivingLab, #JagiellonianUniversity, #innovation, #sustainability

Empowering innovation: the kicking off the second smart solution labs! We are thrilled to share the exciting news of the launch of not one, but two innovative Smart Solution Labs, marking the following milestone within the Interreg VI Smart Solution Labs project! These labs serve as collaborative platforms, uniting eight motivated students from both Germany and the Netherlands, representing esteemed institutions such as Hogeschool Saxion, FH Münster, and Westfälische Hochschule. Our collective goal? To ignite innovation and devise ingenious solutions tailored for businesses operating within the cross-border region. With a diverse blend of talents and expertise, our student cohorts have formed two dynamic, intercultural teams, each primed to tackle challenges head-on and drive forward the frontiers of innovation. On Friday, we commenced this exciting journey with an inspiring innovation training session hosted at the rock'n'popmuseum in Gronau. Here, we not only emphasized the importance of team cohesion but also set the stage for what promises to be a fruitful and collaborative endeavor. With the innovation Coach Markus Schwering students tackled the teambuilding challenge of StackMan, as seen in the video.  Next on our agenda are the eagerly anticipated kick-off events scheduled at bellanet GmbH and Nijdeken Frees en- Graveertechniek B.V. this week. It's an incredible opportunity for our students to translate their theoretical knowledge into practical applications, working hand in hand with these esteemed companies to bring about tangible real-world impact. If you are interested in joining us and being part as a paid student assistant, make sure to visit our website: https://lnkd.in/epWGskm3 This project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the following Interreg partners are participating: the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate and the Province of Overijssel on the Dutch side and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate and Energy NRW on the German side.   #SmartSolutionLabs #EmpoweringInnovationBeyondBorders #InterregVI #euinmyregion Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft für den Kreis Borken mbH Verenigde Maakindustrie Oost Hogeschool Saxion FH Münster Westfälische Hochschule Interreg Deutschland-Nederland

#ATTRACTstories 🗣️   How can design thinking reshape problem-solving? 🧐 The #SGIprogram, aimed at student teams, incorporates this approach to address technological challenges, emphasizing problem space exploration and need finding. Through a relay approach between courses, teams at Linköping University in Sweden and Aalto University in Finland collaborate to enhance knowledge transfer. Besides, students who participate in the program are prepared to drive transformative change in innovation.   Get to know Juan Felipe Ruiz Muñoz and Juan Gil Escribano who discuss their experiences during the #SGIprogram and discover how it has contributed to their personal and professional development.   ✅ Discover more about the #SGIprogram ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dKu7Mxhw   ✅ For detailed insights about the program, visit ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dSzBm2BM IdeaSquare - the innovation space at CERN Aalto Design Factory   #EUfunded #ATTRACTEU #ATTRACTacademy

#TILTing2024 is happening next month and the program is now out! If you haven't registered yet, the deadline for registration has been extended to the 30th of June. I, myself, am excited to be present my research during the "Achieving the energy transition" panel and to moderate the "Healthcare markets: responsibilities & new technologies" panel at the TILTing conference.