IoT Rapid-Proto Labs is a European transnational project bringing Higher Education Institutions and businesses together to accelerate Internet of Things (IoT) product development. The project will create and implement a multidisciplinary (ICT, Design and Electrical Engineering) course curriculum which is focused on real problem-based activities (innovative IoT product development for SME’s/Start-ups). Cross-border teams of students, teachers (coaches), and practitioners will jointly develop solutions to challenging IoT applications (Internet-connected objects), add value for enterprises, and strengthen the employability, creativity and career prospects of students. The implications of IoT for European SME’s/Start-ups are particularly urgent, as 90% feel that they are already lagging behind in digital innovation (Digitising European Industry, European Commission 2016). Furthermore, the high risks and low success rates (typically 15% to25%) associated with new product development are deterring EU companies from investing in IoT R&D. Therefore, IoT Rapid-Proto Labs represents an innovative, multidisciplinary, and low-risk enabler of SME/Start-up IoT innovation.Distributed teams of multidisciplinary students (three European countries) will be supported by a Project Arena (web-platform) which enables them to effectively collaborate on rapid-prototyping of IoT products/services. The Project Arena also stimulates the flow of knowledge and innovation between Higher Education, enterprises and other stakeholders. Each IoT Proto-Lab student-centred team will rapidly set-up, trial and test an innovative IoT solution for their SME/Start-up client (18 clients in the complete project cycle). Throughout the discovery, design, develop and test process, student teams are continually supported by teachers, external coaches (Research Centre and ICT Process Development House) and client staff.
1. IoT Rapid-Prototyping Project-based Learning (IoTLabs) course curriculum2. Piloting the curriculum in order to validate the curriculum/Arena 3. Arena (portal) that supports project processes and knowledge transfer4. Disseminate findings and transfer knowledge to a wider EU audience 5. Design-in viability and scalability of IoTLabs (sustainability)
IoT Rapid-ProtoLabs was a European transnational project brought HEIs and businesses together to accelerate IoT product development. The project created and implemented a multidisciplinary (ICT, Design and Industrial Engineering) curriculum guidelines, which focused on real problem-based activities. Student teams, teachers (coaches), and practitioners jointly developed solutions to challenging IoT applications, added value for enterprises, and increased the employability prospects for students.
<< Background >> IoT Rapid-ProtoLabs was a European transnational project brought HEIs and businesses together to accelerate IoT product development. The project created and implemented a multidisciplinary (ICT, Design and Industrial Engineering) curriculum guidelines, which focused on real problem-based activities. Student teams, teachers (coaches), and practitioners jointly developed solutions to challenging IoT applications, added value for enterprises, and increased the employability prospects for students. << Objectives >> 1. IoT Rapid-Prototyping Project-based Learning (IoTLabs) course curriculum2. Piloting the curriculum in order to validate the curriculum/Arena 3. Arena (portal) that supports project processes and knowledge transfer4. Disseminate findings and transfer knowledge to a wider EU audience 5. Design-in viability and scalability of IoTLabs (sustainability) << Implementation >> During the project's 3 pilot phases, multidisciplinary student teams (from three European countries) collaborated on rapid-prototyping of IoT products/services. The Project Arena platform shared knowledge between HE, companies and other stakeholders. In each IoT Proto-Lab pilot a student-centred team rapidly set-up, trialed and tested an innovative IoT solution for their clients. Throughout the project, student teams were supported by faculty, business partners and client company staff. << Results >> ‘The IoT Curriculum Guidelines - How to design an interdisciplinary IoT curriculum'. The guidelines areto be used for any IoT course if it involves an interdisciplinary design (design, data and device) and/or international collaboration. 18 pilot projects to create and validate the Guidelines for IoT Curriculum. Students' skills and knowledge in interdisciplinary IoT product development. New or improved IoT courses. Over 60 dissemination activities + Arena. Networks with academia and business.