The project aimed to achieve two main objectives: to improve teaching and learning methods in engineering education and to foster collaboration between academia and industry through open innovation. To this end, the project introduced a novel methodology that integrates product hackathons as the founding elements of the product development process. These hackathons provided a platform for rapid ideation and problem solving, allowing students to work on real-world industrial challenges while developing skills relevant to the digital and globalized market. The project also focused on identifying and adapting digital tools to support efficient collaboration in physical and virtual environments, overcoming geographical barriers to innovation. By adapting the hackathon format to the development of physical products, the project aimed to foster students' creativity and entrepreneurial skills while providing companies with access to innovative solutions from external participants. In addition, three consecutive joint courses in the form of two online hackathons and one physical hackathon served as a testing ground for testing and refining the methodology to ensure it aligned with the evolving needs of education and industry.
The project was initiated to address the evolving needs in education and industry for more effective collaboration and innovation in product design and development. Based on previous successful collaborations among the partners (UL-FME, UZ-FSB, PoliMi and TUW), we have identified gaps in current educational methods, especially in preparing students for intensive work in digital, globalized engineering workplaces. Students often lack practical experience in industry-oriented projects and entrepreneurial skills, leaving them inadequately prepared for the demands of the market. At the same time, industry faces challenges of adapting to rapid technological change, embracing open innovation and collaborating with different stakeholders in digital environments. To address these challenges, the project focused on introducing product hackathons as a of methodology and a series of examples to enhance university-industry collaboration. These hackathons, supported by digital collaboration tools, aim to foster innovation by involving students, faculty and companies in solving real-world industrial problems. This approach also facilitates skills development, strengthens employability and supports industry's adaptation to new business model.