EUTOPIA Innovation Challenges: Cultural Heritage in Venice
Do you want to test your innovative mindset together with students from across Europe? Are you interested in working on real-world challenges related to cultural heritage and developing creative solutions together with students from different academic backgrounds? In November 2026, the EUTOPIA Innovation Challenges for Students will take place at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice, Italy.
During four intensive days, you will work in international and interdisciplinary teams on challenge-based assignments proposed by stakeholders from the public and private cultural sectors.
You will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and ideas to a real-world problem while developing your international competence, creativity and ability to collaborate across disciplines and cultures.
Eight students from the University of Gothenburg will have the opportunity to participate onsite in Venice.
What will you work on?
You will work on a concrete challenges related to cultural heritage. You will be part of an international team and combine different perspectives, knowledge and ideas to develop an innovative solution.
The challenges will be developed in collaboration with museums, cultural institutions, and local creative and artisanal industries, giving you the opportunity to work on authentic challenges connected to the cultural heritage of different communities.
Topics may include community engagement and inclusion, the preservation of artisanal heritage, material innovation, sustainability and the circular economy, as well as the intersection of local business, history and innovative public experiences.
Who will you do this with?
Each team will be composed of students from different universities, academic disciplines and backgrounds. Up to 80 students from the 10 EUTOPIA partner universities will participate. Eight students from the University of Gothenburg will be selected to participate.
Är jag behörig att söka?
You need to be a registered and active student at the University of Gothenburg both at the time of application and at the time of the event. For funding reasons, the event is not open to incoming exchange students at GU.
We welcome students from all academic disciplines and from both Bachelor's and Master's level. No prior knowledge of cultural heritage or of the specific challenges is required.
What matters is that you are curious, motivated and willing to engage with the theme and collaborate with others.
The application must be completed and submitted by 20 September, 2026 at 23:59 CET.
What do I need to send in?
- Fill in the application form
- As part of your application, you will also be asked to submit a short video presentation (link to be shared through the application form).
- Keep your video to a maximum of 1 minute and 30 seconds, with clear audio and video so that you are easy to see and understand.
- Tell us briefly who you are, what interests you about Cultural Heritage, and why you would like to take part in the Innovation Challenges.
- Share what you would bring to the initiative and to your team. Your perspectives, skills, ideas or experience.
- Be creative and let your personality shine! There is no need to make a formal presentation.
- Please name your video with your first and last name, e.g. John_Smith.
- You are responsible for ensuring that the link is correct, active and accessible at the time of evaluation. Videos that cannot be accessed because of broken links or permission restrictions will not be evaluated.
How will the students be selected?
Selection will be based on your application and video presentation, including your motivation, as well as your availability and commitment to participate fully throughout the Innovation Challenges.
We also aim to create a diverse group of students, bringing together different academic disciplines, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, while ensuring a balanced representation of genders.
Previous participation in EUTOPIA initiatives will also be taken into consideration. Priority will be given to students who have not previously participated in an EUTOPIA initiative, so that the opportunity can reach as many students as possible.
Other international experiences, such as Erasmus or other study-abroad experiences, will neither favour nor disadvantage your application.
Above all, we are looking for students who are motivated to contribute actively throughout the event and who share the EUTOPIA spirit of collaboration, curiosity and peer support.
25 September the selection results will be announced.
Will I get funding?
There is no participation fee, and selected students will receive Erasmus+ funding to contribute towards travel, accommodation and meals.
Additional funding may be available for sustainable travel and for students with a permanent physical or mental impairment or students with dependent children.
