Innovation Marketplace reaches the halfway point

The 2021-22 Innovation Marketplace has reached the halfway point. Students have been working hard on a challenge set by the German outdoor sports brand Vaude to develop innovative solutions to the issue of backpack wobble during cycling. Over an 11 week period the students have attended workshops and support sessions led by the A4SEE team, equipping them with skills and techniques to tackle the problem. Working in groups from their home universities (Sheffield Hallam, TU Delft, TU Chemnitz, & UAST Wien), students have researched, ideated, prototyped and tested their concepts in all conditions!

Students pitched their preliminary concepts this week to a judging panel of industry and academia, who were impressed with both the ingenuity and quality of their efforts. The best concepts have been selected to go forward to final judging. Students now have a further 8 weeks to refine their prototypes ahead of the grand showdown and exhibition in February 2022 when their solutions and supporting case will be revealed to all.