inno.space

Where passion-based learning meets real-world problems to generate human-centred innovation and true impact.

Our offer for students and companies

inno.space - Design Factory Mannheim provides the environment for passion-based learning, co- creation across disciplines and cultures and industrial collaboration.
It facilitates teamwork, making, prototyping, and digital fabrication in an inspiring and open atmosphere, fostering the right conditions for solving complex real-world problems.

STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING

We put students at the heart of everything we do. By focusing on future skills such as collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, we empower the next generation of engineers to grow into confident problem-solvers.
Learning at inno.space is hands-on, challenge-based, and always connected to real-world contexts — preparing students not just for today's challenges, but for tomorrow's opportunities.

INNOVATION EXPERTISE

Innovation doesn't happen by chance — it follows a process. At inno.space, we guide students and partners through structured innovation methods that connect academia with industry. From ideation to validation, we provide the tools, mindset, and network to turn promising ideas into impactful solutions.
Our strong links to industries, public organizations and NGOs ensure that projects are always relevant and future-ready.

PROTOTYPING EXCELLENCE

Ideas become powerful when they can be tested, touched, and improved. That's why prototyping is at the core of our work. With access to our maker.space, teams bring their concepts to life quickly and iteratively.
From early sketches to functional prototypes, we provide the expertise and environment for rapid experimentation — because making is the fastest way of learning.

News

9 October 2025

Interactive Showcase at Lehr-Lernkonferenz 2025

Under the motto “Together but not in the same place - Collaborative Learning in Hybrid Teaching-Learning Settings”, we presented the results of our SHELLS funding project at the Lehr-Lernkonferenz 2025 on 9 October 2025 in the form of an interactive exhibition.

21-23 July 2025

Paper presentation at GECon 2025 in Hamburg

We presented our paper “Is it worth the effort” at the IEEE German Education Conference (GECon 2025) in Hamburg. The paper explores how course duration and intensity influence students’ innovation capacities in challenge-based engineering design education.

April 2025

Launch of the TECH2X Project

We are excited to announce the commencement of the TECH2X project, a European initiative aimed at enhancing innovation and entrepreneurship capacities in higher education institutions. The project focuses on fostering deep-tech talent and supporting the transition towards the fourth-generation university model.

15 October 2024

New Publication in CERN's IdeaSquare Journal

We're excited to share that our paper 'Making Skills: How Courses on Digital Fabrication Enhance 21st-Century Skills' has been published in the CERN IdeaSquare Journal of Experimental Innovation (Vol. 8 No. 2, 2024).

inno.space so far

students completed
our semester programs

ECTS earned acquiring
an innovation mindset

students participated in
our making workshops

partner challenges solved
during our programs

international
partner universities

student field trips
internationally

Our partners

We are proud for having the support of our great partners. We collaborate together through events, common projects or simply through sharing knowledge!