The ecosystem of the Master in Innovation
Neuchâtel is located at the heart of a dynamic region where industrial and watchmaking heritage meets cutting-edge technologies, creative cultural activities and committed community projects.
At the foot of the Jura, facing the Alps and on the shore of the lake, the city is connected to the past, present and future challenges of innovation, while offering a serene living environment conducive to innovative and collaborative projects rooted in local life.
The Master in Innovation highlights its local anchoring within a diversified ecosystem, connected to the global challenges of globalization, ecology and technology. Through various forms of collaboration, students are encouraged to participate actively in this ecosystem by engaging in society, within the economy and the community.
Collaborations
The Master in Innovation maintains close ties with actors in both local and international networks. Practical cases carried out in collaboration with companies and associations help establish a connection with real situations. Students in the Master program are in regular contact with individuals and institutions outside the University.
The thematic seminars in Innovation offer students the opportunity to carry out applied projects in collaboration with external partners. They can bring their academic perspective and approach while learning from concrete cases. Here are some examples of thematic seminars:
The InnoCité Challenge takes place once a year, during the week before the September semester starts. “Challengers”, organizations from the region, propose issues that students solve during a three-day event. More information is available on the Innocuité Challenge page.
As part of the Master in Innovation, participants in the challenge can earn ECTS credits by submitting a written assignment that links their UniCité challenge to a theoretical concept.
This challenge is also an opportunity to build cohesion among the Master’s students and to prepare for the start of the semester in a convivial atmosphere.
The ACTIVATION Program at Hub Neuchâtel allows students to collaborate with companies and projects with a social impact. They contribute to the preparation of pitches and support project leaders in their communication, thereby strengthening their skills in a convivial and collaborative setting emblematic of the Master.
Lecture series
The Master in Innovation offers much more than a simple course program: it is integrated into a dynamic ecosystem focused on local collaborations and concrete projects.
Students take part in various events, including a Lecture series on contemporary challenges, open to the public, where experts come to discuss the major issues of innovation. This series enriches the Master’s courses and takes place around five times per semester.
Organizing citizen participation
In collaboration with the City of Neuchâtel, the participants in the seminar focused on the Decidim software to organize citizen participation. Each group examined an existing case in a European city. The students then presented recommendations for the City of Neuchâtel to the smart city project managers.
As part of the “Business Game” course, student groups had to pitch entrepreneurial projects in front of the instructors and the head of the Start-Up program at Microcity. The projects had to meet viability criteria and present a relevant business model.
