digital ilab
At the digital innovation lab, participants will acquire the tools to realize their business ideas by putting theory into practice through activities such as conducting interviews with potential customers, building prototypes, developing financial plans, and creating a pitch deck. Ultimately, teams will pitch their ideas at our demo day to a panel of experts and peers.
The course is fast-paced with an expected workload of approximately 100 hours in class, plus additional work to prepare the deliverables between sessions. Participants will learn how to work and perform under pressure, work effectively in teams, and look at the different aspects of an entrepreneurial venture.
Ready to apply?
Don’t miss your chance to apply to the digital innovation lab – applications close on 14 December 2025. Collaborate with students across disciplines, get access to our creative innovation space and unlock up to 10.000Є in seed funding at the end of the programme. Find more about the process on our application page or read our FAQs below.
schedule
We kick off the programme with a 2-day Bootcamp on 13–14 March, where you will identify and frame a problem you want to tackle during the ilab. From there, we’ll meet twice a week, usually Mondays and Fridays, for hands-on sessions. You’ll work on your solution step by step: validating the problem, exploring users and stakeholders, and moving towards your first prototype. In the end, you will pitch at our Demo Day on 19 June, connecting with our community of founders, experts, and supporters.
Please navigate the calendar below using the arrows to change month. You can download the calendar here.
FAQs
The program is open to master students, PhD candidates, and postdocs from all disciplines. Fully taught in English, it is designed to be accessible to all students from diverse academic backgrounds.
Complete the online application form on this page by 14 December 2025. If selected, attend one of the assessment sessions scheduled in January 2026. Upon acceptance, commit to full attendance. University of Vienna students should also register via u:space and contact their SSC to receive 8 ECTS.
If interested in acquiring 8 ECTS for the course, students should first talk to their SSC to check if the ECTS will be recognised. Then, they will have to register to the university course on u:find.
No prior experience is required. The program is designed to provide foundational knowledge in entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology while supporting participants throughout the process.
The course involves regular sessions, workshops, and team-based work. Full attendance is mandatory. Additional time will be required for project development and deliverables.
The innovation atelier is a hands-on workshop format where participants work on their innovation projects, applying theoretical insights to develop prototypes. It includes brainstorming, observation, prototyping, and iterative design activities.
Projects focus on the future of human-technology relations, incorporating interdisciplinary approaches that address societal, technological, and ethical challenges. Teams will identify real-world problems and create sustainable, impactful solutions.
Yes, projects presented on Demo Day may receive financial and mentoring support through the u:seed program, helping teams bring their innovations to reality.
contact
Have questions about the digital 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.