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Welcome to the Utrecht University’s website of bio-inspiration!
Innovative ideas pop up like mushrooms in autumn when students are challenged during courses and internships of the Master’s programme Bio Inspired Innovation. Bio-inspiration is a relatively new and rapidly evolving field within innovation, which is all about creating innovative ideas by looking at and learning from nature.
The programme on bio-inspiration was founded in 2015 and has generated a plethora of bio-based solutions. However, in our ever fast-paced and complex world it can be easy to lose track of all that innovative bio-inspired energy. That’s why this website was created! It is full of innovative ideas of students and alumni.
Biomimicry Design Challenge
The Bio-Inspired Innovation master’s utilizes challenge based learning during the bio inspired design challenge. Participants solve sustainability challenges, framed by the UN SDGs, using the biomimicry and nature based design methodologies. At the end of this 3.5 month course, students pitch their designs to an expert panel of researchers, start-up incubators and biologists. The winner receives funding to further develop their idea in the on site prototyping facility, Lili’s Proto Lab.
View Design Challenge submissions
Profiles and Profile Research Projects
During their Master’s programme, students of Bio Inspired Innovation have to choose one out of 9 Profiles (33 EC). One of the options is the General Research Profile Project (previously known as the Minor Research Project.) During approximately six months students can conduct research and write a report. Some of these projects focus on the innovation of bio-inspired products and ideas that might be interesting for future development.