Jury presentation Innovation Challenge Lausitz

Since January 25, 2024, two highly motivated and interdisciplinary teams have been working on the following regional challenges:

Challenge of the adoption and foster care agency of the district of Görlitz: 

What measures can be taken to overcome obstacles and encourage potential foster parents to open up to the topic of foster care and adoption and to become active?

Challenge of the Upper Lusatian District Sports Association:

How can the Upper Lusatian District Sports Association or the sports clubs of the Görlitz district motivate children and young people to become interested in club sports and consequently become members of a club?

The teams have developed exciting and unconventional ideas, which they now want to present to a jury from the business, political and social sectors in order to receive constructive feedback regarding the implementation of the ideas. 

The jury consists of:

• Antje Klose (Head of the Department for Structural Development,

  Economic Development & International Relations

• Tim Berndt (Managing Director of Entwicklungsgesellschaft Cottbus mbH and Board Member of Wirtschaftsinitiative Lausitz eV (WiL) )

• Manuela Thomas (Managing Director of the Social Network Lausitz) 

Anyone who wants to learn firsthand how the teams proceeded and what ideas emerged is invited to attend the pitches!

 

information : The venues are not wheelchair accessible.

 

Background information:

1. What is the Innovation Challenge?

The Innovation Challenge is an event where diverse groups develop prototype solutions for specific problems faced by companies, municipalities, and associations in the Görlitz district. The teams are guided and supported by coaches and mentors.

2. Who should participate?

Anyone can participate! The current teams, for example, consist of a scientist, three students from different disciplines, two retirees, and professionals from various industries. 

3. What is the added value for our participants?

Our participants receive comprehensive training in various creativity and innovation methods, which they can use beyond the event itself. They apply these methods in practical, regional contexts, enabling them to actively contribute to the structural change process. Furthermore, participants expand their network and meet interesting people. 

 4. How exactly does that work?

The kick-off event for the Innovation Challenge took place on January 25, 2024, at the Unbezahlbar Lounge in Görlitz. The challenges were presented and the teams were formed. 

The teams then work on their challenge in individual sessions, supported by one of our coaches. 

 On March 7, 2024, the teams will present their developed solutions to an interdisciplinary jury in order to receive constructive feedback for possible implementation.