The Swabian Innovation Masterclass and the cooperation project NEXUS KANU are joint initiatives of four universities in Bavarian Swabia: the University of Augsburg, Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, Kempten University of Applied Sciences and HNU. The aim is to promote the innovative strength and entrepreneurial spirit of students and thus sustainably strengthen Swabia as a location for business and innovation. The Swabian Innovation Masterclass serves as the central teaching format within the KANU project. It was designed as an interdisciplinary elective subject and consists of four thematic block courses, which are organized by the participating universities.
“The Swabian Innovation Masterclass creates a unique framework in which students can work together on future topics across subject and university boundaries - with an impact for the region and beyond,” emphasizes Carina Volk-Schor, research assistant at HNU and technical director of the NEXUS KANU project.
Promoting commitment, sustainability and future-proof healthcare with design thinking
The project week at HNU focused on five real challenges faced by institutions in the region. With the help of the Design Thinking method, the students dealt with the complex challenges in a user-centered and solution-oriented manner - from needs analysis and idea generation to prototype implementation. They were supported by the university's Innovation Space.
The city of Neu-Ulm presented the topic “Artificial intelligence in daycare centers - opportunity or risk?”. Here, the students reflected on the sensible use of AI in early childhood education. The Agenda Office of the City of Ulm and DING GmbH contributed the question “Green mobility for young people - how can it be cool and climate-friendly?”, with the students developing innovative ideas to make sustainable mobility options more attractive. The Agenda Office also worked on the concept "Have your say! - Building a citizens' editorial team for agzente+", which aims to promote the active participation of the population in local reporting.
The Haus der Nachhaltigkeit e. V. Ulm/Neu-Ulm (HdN) was also represented with a central question: “Shaping community - how do we get people involved in the HdN?” The students developed strategies to get more people interested in sustainable engagement and to involve them in the long term. Finally, the students dealt with the topic of “New approaches to care - the day clinic of the future”, which was presented by the town of Illertissen and the Illertissen health center. The focus here was on innovative care concepts designed to enable modern, patient-oriented healthcare.
Leonie, a student at HNU, particularly emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of the masterclass: "The different areas of expertise, from mechanical engineering to global business management and digitalization, complemented each other perfectly. This enabled us to develop innovative solutions that are not only theoretically convincing, but also practical."
Stage for innovative spirit: Final presentations for practice partners and the public
The students presented their results to practice partners and the interested public at the final pitch on May 23, 2025 in the HNU Innovation Space. They were evaluated by an expert jury consisting of Valentina Michels (DING GmbH), Petra Schmitz (City of Ulm), Robert Schwarz (City of Neu-Ulm), Ivanka Burger (HdN), Jürgen Lehmann (Illertissen Health Center), Thomas Bayer (Project Manager KANU, HNU), Daniel Schallmo, Twain Stolz (University of Augsburg, KANU employee, Head of StartupHub) and Carina Volk-Schor (HNU).
First place went to the “KI im Kindergarten” team, which impressed the judges with an innovative concept for a chatbot for digital documentation in daycare centers. HNU Prof. Dr. Daniel Schallmo, who supervised the students, sums up: "We were impressed by the students' commitment and creativity. They showed great commitment, empathy and innovative spirit and developed real solutions for pressing social issues." The practice partners are also delighted. Jürgen Lehmann from the Illertissen health center reports: “I am very impressed by the high level of reflection with which the challenges were dealt with.”
The week was accompanied by a varied supporting program with team-building elements, an excursion to the ModelFab at the Bosch Rexroth customer center CU.BE in Ulm, a keynote speech on intrapreneurship by Prof. Dr. Antje Wild (HNU) and a festive conclusion of the KANU year at the networking event “Founders & Beer” in the HNU Founders Space.
