BIP Erasmus+ RIL 2026

RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION LAB: DESIGN THINKING FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES 

Online: 5. 10. – 16. 10. 2026

Face-to-face: 19. 10. – 23. 10. 2026

NOMINATION DEADLINE 12. 6. 2026

How can students move from discussing sustainability to designing practical, user-centered solutions for real-world challenges? How can responsible innovation help transform environmental, social, and economic problems into meaningful project ideas?

This Blended Intensive Programme offers a hands-on international learning experience focused on responsible innovation, sustainability, and design thinking. Students will explore how sustainable futures can be shaped through empathy, creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, and structured innovation methods.

Rather than approaching sustainability only as a theoretical concept, participants will work in teams to identify real problems, understand the needs of users and stakeholders, define design challenges, generate ideas, build prototypes, and test their solutions. The programme combines academic input, practical workshops, mentoring, intercultural collaboration, and project-based learning.

The central theme of the programme is designing responsible and sustainable solutions that create value for people, organizations, and society.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION LAB FOR?

The programme is designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students from different countries and disciplines who are interested in sustainability, responsible business, innovation, entrepreneurship, management, social impact, and practical problem-solving.

It is particularly suitable for students who are open to:

• international teamwork,
• interdisciplinary cooperation,
• creative and critical thinking,
• sustainability-oriented project work,
• active participation in workshops and discussions,
• developing ideas with real social, environmental, or economic relevance.

No advanced background is required. The programme is open to students who are motivated to explore how innovation can contribute to sustainable futures.

WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN?

By completing the BIP, students will be able to:

• understand the principles of responsible innovation and sustainability-oriented problem-solving,
• apply design thinking to real-world sustainability challenges,
• identify user and stakeholder needs,
• define meaningful innovation challenges using the “How might we…?” approach,
• generate and evaluate innovative ideas,
• develop simple prototypes of sustainable solutions,
• test ideas and collect feedback,
• work effectively with international teams,
• communicate project ideas clearly to academic and non-academic audiences,
• critically reflect on the social, environmental, and economic impact of proposed solutions.

WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD BRING TO THE CLASS?

Participants are expected to bring curiosity, openness, creativity, and willingness to work actively in international teams. They should be ready to discuss sustainability challenges, interview or observe potential users, share ideas, build simple prototypes, and present their work.

Students should be willing to explore one of the following areas:

• sustainable consumption,
• circular economy,
• responsible business,
• sustainable tourism,
• climate adaptation,
• social inclusion,
• healthy and responsible lifestyles,
• sustainable cities and communities,
• education for sustainability,
• digital tools for sustainable behaviour,
• student-led sustainability initiatives,
• or another sustainability-related challenge relevant to their field of study.

RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION LAB TAKEAWAYS

The programme will help students transform sustainability-related problems into practical and responsible innovation concepts. During the programme, students will go through the full design thinking process: from understanding users and defining the problem to ideation, prototyping, testing, and presenting their solution.

The programme culminates in a final project presentation, where student teams will present their sustainable innovation concepts to peers, teachers, mentors, and invited guests. Students will receive feedback on the relevance, feasibility, user value, and sustainability impact of their ideas.

The programme is complemented by a cultural and social programme that supports intercultural learning, networking, and informal cooperation among students from partner universities.

EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE PROJECT TOPICS

Students may work on topics such as:

• reducing food waste among students,
• supporting sustainable behaviour on campus,
• improving circular economy practices in everyday life,
• designing services for more sustainable tourism,
• encouraging responsible consumption,
• supporting local communities through social innovation,
• making sustainability communication more understandable,
• helping organizations engage employees in sustainability,
• creating tools for sustainable student mobility,
• promoting inclusive and responsible innovation.

WHAT WILL STUDENTS RECEIVE?

• 3 ECTS credits after successful completion of the programme,
• experience with design thinking and sustainability-oriented innovation,
• the opportunity to work with international teams,
• practical experience with project-based learning
• feedback from teachers, mentors, and peers,
• the chance to visit the Czech Republic and the University of Pardubice,
• new academic, professional, and intercultural contacts.

WHY JOIN RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION LAB?

Sustainability challenges require more than knowledge. They require empathy, creativity, collaboration, and the ability to design solutions that respond to real human needs.

Responsible Innovation Lab gives students the opportunity to experience how ideas are developed in practice. They will not only learn about sustainability and innovation, but also actively create, test, and communicate their own solutions.

The programme is an opportunity for students to become active contributors to sustainable futures.