JugendUnternimmt summer school 2023
From 24 to 28 July 2023, 23 young researchers from all over Germany developed their project ideas into viable business models at the Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt.
The projects focussed on solving supposedly minor everyday problems or offered technically innovative proposals for tackling complex issues in the fields of business, environmental protection or medicine. The majority of the ideas came from the fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology.
The topic of sustainability is now becoming more of a focus in many projects. For example, one team worked on the development of a mobile solar charging station for portable devices, another on the production of organic solar cells or the compostable disposable bag made from bioplastics.The further development of a care bed or the measuring device for checking food safety demonstrate the diversity of the projects and their necessity.
Participation in the JugendUnternimmt summer school is awarded as a special prize via the Jugend forscht competition. Suitable projects are those whose results are particularly ready for application or have a high utilisation potential.
In order for the participants' ideas to be realised later on, however, a good dose of entrepreneurial courage is required: the kind of thinking and acting that combines entrepreneurial freedom and social responsibility. During the summer school, which is organised by the Internationale Martin Luther Stiftung (IMLS) and the Stiftung für Technologie, Innovation und Forschung Thüringen (STIFT), the young people took part in workshops, seminars and discussion panels. In addition, entrepreneurs, finance experts and coaches provided a practical insight into everyday business life. In this way, the participants learnt about the complexity of entrepreneurial thinking and action based on their own project ideas.
The final event of the JugendUnternimmt summer school took place on Thursday, 27 July 2023 at the Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt. Here, the participants presented their business ideas to an expert jury in an elevator pitch.
