open innovation lab

The open innovation lab is a self-paced program for teams working on innovative ideas at the University of Vienna. Whether you’re exploring a social impact project, tackling a problem you are dying to solve, or working on the next big innovation, we’re here to support you. Our mission is to provide aspiring innovators with the resources, guidance, and community they need to test, develop, and refine their ideas.

Who is the programme for?

We welcome applications from teams working on start-up or social impact projects who are motivated to bring their idea to the next level. If your idea is aiming to make a difference or solves a problem, it’s a good fit for the open ilab!

What we expect: 

Idea

You have a clear idea and motivation to test and develop it further.

Participation

You are interested in engaging with the community and contributing to it.

Commitment

Monthly check-ins to track progress, including milestone updates.

Don’t have a team yet? Join our Slack Community to introduce yourself and find potential teammates, or participate in our activities like hackathons and masterclasses to meet like-minded individuals. We regularly advertise our activities on Slack and on our WhatsApp Group.  

Your innovation journey starts here!

Get access to our creative innovation space, resources and unlock up to 10.000Є in seed funding at the end of the programme. 

Apply Now!

What we offer

Community

Benefit from our creative innovation space, peer sessions, community events and networking opportunities. ​

Mentoring

Gain valuable insights from experienced mentors, and receive tailored guidance to take your ideas to the next level.

Resources

Access tools and training materials to help you succeed. Successful teams can apply for up to 10.000Є in seed funding. 

How it works

Submit your application using the form below. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, we will contact you within two weeks of your submission.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • You are a highly motivated team with a passion for innovation.
  • You have an entrepreneurial or social impact idea you want to realize. 
  • At least one team member is affiliated to the University of Vienna (student, employee or alumni).

New teams are onboarded at least once per month.  We will introduce you to the programme, provide resources and give you access to our Creative Innovation Space at Apostelgasse. Teams will define their next steps and agree on the first milestones.

Successful candidates will be invited to participate in the programme and join our innovation community. Dive deep into testing, prototyping, and refining your concept. Through hands-on experimentation, feedback sessions, and milestone tracking, you’ll work toward transforming your vision into reality.

Participants actively contribute to the community by organising collaborative activities, enhancing both their own growth and the collective success of the innovation labs.

Ready to apply?

Fill out the form below to apply, we will contact you within two weeks of receiving your application. Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis. 

contact

Have questions about the open innovation lab? Need more information about the program, application process, or schedule? Don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help! Simply write a message to entrepreneurship@univie.ac.at and we will get back to you as soon as possible.