Innovation in technology and entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in addressing societal challenges and advancing scientific discoveries. Programs that integrate research, design, and business development provide students with opportunities to explore new technologies while fostering their ability to create impactful solutions. The Challenge Based Innovation ATTRACT (CBI.ATTRACT) program focuses on developing an entrepreneurial mindset among students while ensuring the effective use of innovative technologies for real-world applications.
This program is designed as a structured process that guides multidisciplinary student teams through the exploration, development, and implementation of technological solutions. The CBI.ATTRACT involves five inter-university teams working collaboratively to investigate breakthrough technologies and translate them into viable solutions addressing societal, human, and environmental needs.
The process is divided into three phases: in the first phase, “Discover”, students analyse an assigned technology, explore its potential applications in various fields, and validate initial ideas with users and experts. They work closely with the ATTRACT project partner to assess feasibility and refine promising opportunities. The second phase “Design”, focuses on developing concept solutions and multiple prototypes, testing them with relevant users to evaluate their effectiveness, and addressing critical feasibility challenges. In the third phase, “Develop”, teams build a functional prototype, refine the solution’s design, validate it with key stakeholders, and plan an implementation strategy.
The methodology of this program combines human-centred design with technology-driven innovation. It integrates Design Thinking principles with structured approaches to identifying and evaluating technological opportunities that can have a significant impact at both global and local levels. Students engage with researchers, including those who developed imaging technology, as well as experts from different fields, to gain technical insights and understand potential applications in different contexts.
“CBI.ATTRACT exemplifies the fundamental role of technology transfer in bridging academic research with tangible market and societal opportunities. By fostering a multidisciplinary and creative mindset, the program not only empowers students to explore the entrepreneurial potential of breakthrough technologies but also serves as a catalyst for researchers who may be less accustomed to the dynamics of business innovation. This cross-pollination of technical expertise and entrepreneurial vision is essential to transforming cutting-edge scientific advancements into impactful, real-world solutions,
commented Matteo Vignoli, Associate Professor at the University of Bologna and coordinator of CBI.ATTRACT.
Over two rounds during ATTRACT phase 2, the CBI.ATTRACT program has engaged 60 students from three universities, working in multidisciplinary teams to develop 10 innovative solutions. These solutions emerged from the exploration of multiple ATTRACT technologies, including AHEAD, Glass2Mass, HYLIGHT, MicroQuaD, and Pipe4.0, among others.
It should be noted that the CBI.ATTRACT program is coordinated by the University of Bologna, in partnership with the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, the University of Ferrara and Almacube.
Here you can watch a video of the CBI.ATTRACT program:
For additional information about the program, visit here.
Innovation in technology and entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in addressing societal challenges and advancing scientific discoveries. Programs that integrate research, design, and business development provide students with opportunities to explore new technologies while fostering their ability to create impactful solutions. The Challenge Based Innovation ATTRACT (CBI.ATTRACT) program focuses on developing an entrepreneurial mindset among […]
