We are proud to share that our project “TECH2X – Technology for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Excellence,” in which ODTÜ Design Factory is a partner, has been selected for funding under the @EIT Higher Education Initiative 2024 Call!

The project aims to enhance the innovation and entrepreneurship capacities of higher education institutions, strengthen deep-tech competencies, and support the transition toward the 4th generation university model in Europe.

In addition to METU from Türkiye, TECH2X brings together leading universities and research institutions including Fundación Esade (Spain), Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna (UNIBO) and the innovation center Almacube (Italy), Hochschule Mannheim (HSMA – Germany), and CERN (Switzerland). Through application-based collaborations focusing on climate and mobility, TECH2X seeks to build a science-driven innovation and entrepreneurship platform across Europe.

Within the scope of the project, new curricula, challenge-based learning methodologies, and dedicated support programs for women entrepreneurs will be developed, while strengthening collaboration between higher education, research, and industry.

With TECH2X, ODTÜ Design Factory aims to expand its international partnerships and contribute significantly to the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Middle East Technical University (METU) brings high school students together with the creative and dynamic world of engineering through its Engineering Summer School. Launched with the slogan “Code Your Future at METU,” the program offers students the opportunity to learn the basic principles of fields such as space technologies, robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and earthquake engineering, while also gaining hands-on experience in advanced technology laboratories.

One of the courses in the program, “BIOINSPIRED 101: Nature-Inspired Designs,” will have its practical component conducted at the METU Design Factory. In this course, students will develop an innovative perspective on engineering and design by drawing inspiration from the perfect systems and forms found in nature. Under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Arzu Gönenç Sorguç, participants will have the chance to produce their own nature-inspired models using 3D printers.

At the end of the two-week summer school, students will receive a METU-certified certificate of participation. The program offers a unique experience for young people interested in engineering, providing both knowledge and skills development as well as social interaction.

For high school students who want to build the future of their dreams, the METU Summer School is an inspiring starting point.

More information and applications:
https://metusummerschool.org/

As part of the project “Games, Wearable Technologies, and Next-Generation Films: Economic Development through Creative Industries (ECITE),” creative projects took the stage following a gathering held at the METU Design Factory.

At the ECITE Pitching Event, project developers working in the fields of film, games, and wearable technologies had the opportunity to present their ideas to industry professionals, representatives from the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and members of the creative community. Organized under the leadership of METU Crea, participants introduced their projects, received feedback, and took the first steps toward potential collaborations.

The event was not limited to the sharing of creative ideas; it also provided a platform that fostered cross-sectoral interaction and a culture of multidisciplinary production. METU Crea continues to support creative industries and host projects that bring together technology and art.

METU Design Factory, an innovation center where researchers and students from various disciplines come together and work on new products and solutions, hosts an important organization in the fields of design, innovation, and collaboration. Within the International Design Factory Week (IDFW) that will take place between October 2-6, 2023, design factory representatives from many countries will convene at METU for workshops, training and new collaboration opportunities.

Design Factory Global Network (DFGN), comprising 39 design factories across 26 countries as members and promoting international cooperation efforts with a focus on education and innovation through events such as IDFW, gathers its 25 member design factories and nearly fifty representatives at METU Design Factory. The design factories that participate in this year’s event to discuss possible future collaborations and projects in addition to sharing their activities with others are listed below.

• Design Factory Javeriana Bogotá (Colombia)
• Design Factory Korea (South Korea)
• Design Factory Melbourne (Australia)
• Design Factory Shenkar (Israel)
• DF London (England)
• DF Pforzheim (Germany)
• DF@Seunisa (Italy)
• FORGE Design Factory (Ireland)
• FusionPoint (Spain)
• Future Design Factory (The Netherlands)
• HAMK Design Factory (Finland)
• Hannam Design Factory (South Korea)
• iCubo UDD (Chile)
• Ideasquare @CERN (Switzerland)
• Inno.space (Germany)
• Kyoto Design Lab (Japan)
• Manchester Design Factory (England)
• NYC Design Factory (United States of America)
• Oper.Space (Italy)
• Porto Design Factory (Portugal)
• Sino-Finnish Centre (China)
• St. John’s University Design Factory (United States of America)
• University of Tartu Delta Sandbox (Estonia)
• UPV: Generación Espontánea (Spain)

This year in its seventh iteration at the METU Design Factory, IDFW also includes the second international DFGN.R Conference, where diverse applications and educational insights from all over the world in the field of design and innovation are exchanged and explored. This year’s conference, themed “Design for Diversity,” will take place on October 5-6 in collaboration with the CERN IdeaSquare Journal of Experimental Innovation (CIJ), and selected research papers will be published in a special issue of this journal. Throughout the remainder of the week, you can get the updates regarding these exciting events by following the METU Design Factory and DFGN social media accounts, or by following the hashtags #IDFW2023 and #DFGNR. For detailed information and updates, you can also click on the links below.

• DFGN.R Conference Website: https://www.conference.dfgn.org/
• Conference Proceedings Book: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/123732
• METU Design Factory Website: https://tf.metu.edu.tr/

Funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Technical Assistance for “ECITE: Emergence of Creative Industries and Transformation of Economy of Gaming, Wearables and New Generation Film Production” will be carried out in cooperation with METU Design Factory, METU GISAM and ATOM. The kick-off meeting with the partners of the project was held on 16.03.2023 at METU Culture and Congress Center.

The International Design Factory Week (IDFW), which will be held for the seventh time in 2023, is planned to be hosted by the METU Design Factory. IDFW is an event where design factories located in 35 different cities around the world come together every year to share their experiences and exchange ideas on potential collaborations and projects through various events and workshops held throughout the week, within the body of the Global Network of Design Factories (DFGN). The event is also a global event promoting the host design factory and the surrounding ecosystem.

Within the scope of the IDFW’23 organization, which will be hosted by the METU Design Factory in 2023, Aalto University Design Factories Global Network coordinators discussed the organization planning and existing infrastructures for 4 days between 14-17 November 2022. Various meetings were held, including the design factory, METU campus and technological infrastructures were introduced.