ScaleUp4Sustainability promotes co-innovation for sustainability

New approaches to collaboration between students and companies developed in Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands

Between 2018 and 2022, the University of Oldenburg coordinated a consortium consisting of two universities (besides Oldenburg, the University of Linköping ,SE), 6 companies (including the Oldenburg companies EWE Aktiengesellschaft, BÜFA GmbH & Co. KG and CEWE Stiftung und Co KG), the research institute Borderstep and the consulting company Vennebroek Academic Services (NL).

The aim of the project was to investigate existing approaches to cooperation between students and companies in the field of green venturing and to create new approaches in the field of curricular and extra-curricular teaching and learning opportunities with practical partners. Green venturing in this context means developing entrepreneurial ideas and business models for ecologically relevant sustainability challenges.

During the 40 months of the project, 14 different approaches were developed and successfully tested. These ranged from the further development of existing teaching modules and the development of company-specific case study work with students from different disciplines and/or different universities to the internationalization of virtual challenges. 

The various approaches demonstrably fostered students’ competencies for sustainable entrepreneurship and have thus contributed to strengthening innovative capacity within the participating regions. All approaches are documented in detail and can be accessed via the website. 

In addition, in order to provide teachers, students and entrepreneurs from other regions with an overview of existing challenge formats in the field of sustainable venturing and to facilitate entry through the experiences of the consortium, the Sustainable Venturing Challenge Platform was created as a central project result.

Author:

Klaus Fichter, Anne Seela

Date:
31.08.2022

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