We are proud to have held our first ever I.Expo at inno.space this summer! There, five student teams from three courses presented the amazing results of their work:

TDX

Over the course of the semester, our TDX students explored the complex workings of their deep-tech topics, identified users and stakeholders, developed prototypes, and exchanged ideas with experts from various fields. We are incredibly proud of what our TDX students have achieved.

Team Energy Efficient demonstrated how emerging algae production plants in the pharmaceutical and food industries can streamline and improve cultivation using GC-IMS through a traffic-light indication system. This enables plant supervisors to diagnose algae more easily and address potential issues more effectively. (Link to the post on LinkedIn)

Team Gray Roomers implemented SCERA technology in a catheter sensor to help medical staff detect infections early and support workflow organization on the hospital floor. In doing so, they help reduce the need for antibiotics and lower the risk of antibiotic resistance for patients with long-term catheters. (Link to the post on LinkedIn)

A special thanks to our tech owners, both in-house and abroad. Thank you to the inno.space community for supporting one another. Thank you to all 10 TDX students for your hard work, curiosity, and commitment. We have truly enjoyed guiding you through all three diamonds of our tech-driven innovation program. We wish you all the luck and success the future holds, and you are always welcome to drop by and say hi anytime.

Our Tech2X course could only come to life through our collaboration with our partners at Almacube, Department of Management - DiSA, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Esade, IdeaSquare - the innovation space at CERN, and METU Design Factory at Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi / Middle East Technical University.

PDP

Team Hidden-Elements tackled the lack of knowledge about what materials are used in smartphones, focusing on mining materials and their impact on people and nature, emphasizing on awareness rather than pushing blame. You can not only test your knowledge about it, but you can also call the elements, right from your phone! (Link to the post on LinkedIn)

Team Trash Talkers helped people sort waste and therefore reduced our environmental impact as consumers! And they did that with minimal changes to already existing infrastructures. Take a look at “Trash-Path”, a modernization of underground waste disposal units in large residential complexes! (Link to the post on LinkedIn)

Huge thanks to our cooperation Partners, the Stadt Mannheim and Lukas Wagner from the University of Marburg for their incredible support, and TransforMA for making these impactful projects possible!

CBI

Over the past two semesters, our CBI students have worked incredibly hard to tackle SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, developing ideas for a better and more liveable summer in Mannheim.

Team Sustainable Squares explored future scenarios for the city, spoke with experts from Mannheim’s infrastructure about the feasibility of their concept, and developed a dynamic physical prototype. They have come up with a solution that combines layered cooling strategies in one street canyon: retractable solar sails with flexible PV to cut daytime heat, a mycelium-based pavement that stores less warmth, and vertical greenery for evaporative cooling. Together these measures reduce heat buildup, speed nighttime cooling, and make summer in the city safer and healthier. (Link to the post on LinkedIn)