02. What makes a challenge suitable for TU/e innovation Space?

TU/e Innovation Space is a community-driven ecosystem of interdisciplinary, impactful innovation and entrepreneurship at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) is a core part of the educational approach at TU/e Innovation Space. For a challenge from a company to be suitable for CBL in TU/e Innovation Space, it should meet the following criteria: 

Relevance and Impact: The challenge should align with the mission and values of TU/e Innovation Space, which focus on promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, impactful innovations, and entrepreneurship. The challenge should be relevant to the research areas and expertise of the TU/e community. It should be designed to address real-world problems or issues that require innovative and interdisciplinary solutions. Furthermore, the challenge should have the potential to create positive impact and generate value for society, industry, or the environment. It should align with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and promote responsible innovation. 

Complexity and Feasibility: The challenge should be complex enough to require critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration among students, staff, and external stakeholders. It should not be a simple or straightforward task that can be solved easily. It should however also take into account the time, resources, and skills required to complete the challenge. It should be challenging enough to engage participants and foster creativity, but not so difficult that it becomes discouraging or overwhelming. 

Interdisciplinary working and stakeholder management: ity: The challenge should require collaboration among students from different faculties (and backgrounds), researchers, and professionals from different disciplines and backgrounds. It should encourage the integration of diverse perspectives and expertise. 

Open-endedness: The challenge should be open-ended, where the optimal outcome or solution is unknown, leaving students room for creativity in figuring out what the best approach or solution to the challenge would be. It should not have a pre-determined or specific desired outcome. Students are ultimately in charge of determining the direction they want to take the challenge in. 

Support: The company should be willing to provide support and resources to participants throughout the challenge. This could include mentorship, access to data, equipment, or expertise, and extra financial or in-kind support for prototyping. 

Overall, a suitable challenge from a company for CBL in TU/e Innovation Space should be aligned with the mission and values of the community, relevant, complex, interdisciplinary, impactful, feasible, and well-supported. By meeting these criteria, a challenge can provide a meaningful and engaging learning experience that prepares participants for real-world problem-solving and innovation, and creates value for all stakeholders involved.