MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® proudly hosted the “SOAK Biomimicry 2024” event, a transformative week-long immersion experience dedicated to addressing the pressing challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss initiated by the COOP Sustainable Universities (Bündnis Nachhaltige Hochschulen) and lead by the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland.
The vision of SOAK Biomimicry 2024 is to motivate individuals to integrate nature-inspired, regenerative concepts into their lives, work and environment. Throughout the week, 22 participants from four countries worked intensively on challenges related to climate change and biodiversity, particularly focusing on the local Tyrolean area. They started by understanding local stakeholder needs and the dynamics of nature, spending time in locations such as Seefeld and Kranebitten to immerse themselves in the natural environment. They then worked in groups, each aligning with biomimicry life principles, and selected a natural “champion” to apply its unique strategies for survival in their proposed design solutions.
The outcomes of this collaboration were concepts for an interactive exhibition and learning experience aimed at inspiring young entrepreneurs. The design challenge was to encourage this target group to look to nature for innovative solutions, fostering personal realizations and transformations that could influence their future business practices. SOAK Biomimicry 2024 concluded with a presentation of the creative and innovative design ideas developed during the week.
The Teaching Team of SOAK expressed their satisfaction with the event's outcomes: “This year’s SOAK Biomimicry Immersion week resulted in many great ideas and creative designs that will be taken forward to future projects. The most important outcome for us was to see the change in the participants’ awareness and approach to design, and their realization that nature provides us with many options for creating a life style and practices that are conducive to life. Thanks to MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® for hosting us!”
MCI Rector Andreas Altmann highlighted the importance of transdisciplinary collaboration: “By bringing together experts and students from diverse fields, the SOAK Biomimicry 2024 has been able to foster a rich dialogue and generate new ideas that will contribute to advancements in both academic research and practical applications. This aligns perfectly with MCI’s mission to drive forward-thinking and impactful education as well as innovative and entrepreneurial approaches.”
Regina Obexer, Head of MCI’s Center for Responsible Management & Social Impact, commented: “We are thrilled with the success of this year’s Summer Academy. Hosting such a dynamic group of participants here at MCI has been a truly rewarding experience. The enthusiasm and commitment displayed by everyone involved have been inspiring.”
SOAK Biomimicry 2024 was an initiative of the COOP Sustainable Universities (Bündnis Nachhaltige Hochschulen) under the leadership of the FH Burgenland and in partnership with the University for Applied Arts Vienna and is dedicated to fostering sustainable innovation through the conscious emulation of nature's genius. By bringing together diverse disciplines, SOAK aims to bridge the gap between nature and technology, biology and innovation, life, and design.
Throughout the week, 22 participants from four countries worked intensively on challenges related to climate change and biodiversity ©MCI / Marc Scherr
Throughout the week, 22 participants from four countries worked intensively on challenges related to climate change and biodiversity ©SOAK Biomimicry 2024 CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
COOP Sustainable Universities
MCI Center for Responsible Management & Social Impact
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