structural development

The Innovation Challenge Lausitz offers the opportunity to strengthen your own problem-solving skills with great coaches, other creative people and the help of new methods and approaches.

New challenges arise almost every day in companies, clubs and communities. New problem-solving skills, creativity and interdisciplinary networking are required. But how does something like this work? By learning it, trying it out and practicing . Together! Wilhelmine Buscha and Saskia Brosius from the innovation team of the Structural Change Task Force at ENO are inviting you The two answered questions from the UBL blog interview team about the new format of the ICL. But first we wanted to know:

Who should participate?

Wilhelmine & Saskia recommend the format for:

• Employees of regional institutions from all sectors who want to get to know new methods, solve current hurdles and escape everyday thought patterns
• Developers and computer scientists who want to immediately show what they can do and want to come into direct contact with potential clients.
• Students, schoolchildren and young professionals

Click here to register directly for individuals and groups !

A few sentences about the success of the winner of the last ICL in WSW - what's next?  

The winning idea of ​​the first Innovation Challenge was presented to the Weißwasser city council. The city councilors now have to decide whether and how they want to implement the idea. If the city decides to do this, we as ENO are available to provide support and, for example, look for suitable funding for implementation.

What were the lessons learned from the big challenge?

What we learned from the first Lausitz Innovation Challenge was that there are people in our district with incredibly good and creative ideas who just want to be teased out. Apart from that, we also found that 2.5 days of the event is a long and tiring period of time that you have to clear out first.

Why are you working with the new format, what is new and different about it? How does the short format work?

We hope that with our new organizational approach we can find even more citizens who would like to get involved.

The new Innovation Challenge Lausitz extends over five dates in which the original ICL process is followed. You can find all information about the new format here.

In concrete terms, this means that, as in the original format , there will be a joint kick-off during which the challenges will be presented, groups will be formed and interviews will be conducted with the challengers.

This is followed by three individual appointments with the teams in which you go through the phases of design thinking (=idea development method) and repeatedly test your ideas on the target group. Here it is up to the groups where they meet (e.g. in Zittau, Görlitz, Weißwasser or online). In addition, the work dates are flexible and can be adjusted if the date does not suit the majority of the group.

The last fixed date is used to prepare the presentation and present the results to the challengers and a jury .

Collage and cover photo: Impressions of the 1st ICL in April 2023 in Weißwasser

This alternative allows us to process the challenges in the same quality as in the original format, but with significantly more flexibility. In addition, implementation can also be achieved with a lower minimum number of participants.

Where did you get inspiration?

The idea for the new process came to me in the swimming pool.

Are there any great examples that you use as a guide?

Our role model remains the Dresden Innovation Challenge .

About the target group: The next Innovation Challenge will take place on January 25th, 2024 in Görlitz! Who should register by January 20, 2024?

Clearly anyone who would like to get involved in structural change and wants to work on real challenges facing institutions in the district. No prior knowledge required.

What should/can the output be for the participants?

Participants receive a comprehensive method book that they can use to solve their own challenges. There is also a certificate of participation and the chance to win regional prizes.

And: do you also support the participants in the implementation?

The implementation of the ideas lies with the challengers. You decide whether the idea will be implemented and how that will happen. Of course, we are here to support the challengers.

Further detailed information and registration: please click here!