This challenge is designed to give you both cutting-edge insights and practical skills in the fast-evolving field of advanced manufacturing.

You’ll develop a solution, using the tools given by the teamchers, to be able to do smart machining, preparing you to engage with the future of industrial innovation.

This challenge is part of a learning pathway co-offered by INSA Toulouse and the University of Trento.

Part I(a) is a micromodule and this Part I b, the challenge, is delivered by INSA Toulouse.

Micromodule runs from October to November 2025 and Challenge from December 2025 to January, 2026.

Part II, delivered by the University of Trento, follows from January to May 2026.

Each section includes asynchronous online lectures, interactive assignments, and opportunities for guidance during designated class hours. Assessment is based on your performance in quizzes, assignments, and mini assignments.

CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a document that summarizes your educational and professional history. It must provide a detailed overview of your academic and work experience, skills, achievements, and qualifications.

Motivation letter is a personal statement and it might include a brief introduction of yourself, explanation why are you interested in the learning opportunity you are applying to, any relevant experience or skills that you have, your goals and how this opportunity will help you achieve them, This document should not be more than 400 words.

Motivation Letter

Transcript of Records is an official document issued by your home university. It specifies the name of the institution, the academic programme you are enrolled in, the list of courses taken up until the current period, the exams or tests you passed, the grades and the credits you earned. 

Transcript of Records

INSA Group

Multi-Agent Systems for Smart Machining II

Reduce Energy Consumption in the Manufacturing Process

Energy and sustainability

Entrepreneurship, technology and innovation

Critical and innovative thinking

Inter-personal skills

In today’s fast-paced, competitive world, innovation is not just a buzzword; it’s a necessity. But how can you consistently deliver breakthrough ideas and solutions? Enter TRIZ, the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, a globally recognized methodology that has helped industries tackle their toughest challenges for decades. This micromodule is your chance to dive into this transformative approach and unlock its potential for your academic and professional journey. 

What makes this course unique? Unlike traditional innovation methods, TRIZ provides a systematic way to think creatively and solve problems effectively. Enhanced by Artificial Intelligence, this course offers a modern twist to a timeless methodology, giving you a competitive edge in today’s AI-driven industries. 

By studying this micromodule, you’ll gain: 

• A clear understanding of TRIZ principles and their practical applications. 

• Problem-solving skills that will distinguish you in your field. 

• The ability to approach challenges with confidence and structure. 

This course is designed for learners who want to maximize their innovation capabilities. Whether you’re an engineering student, aspiring entrepreneur, or a curious mind, the skills you gain here are invaluable for standing out in an increasingly demanding job market.

Invest in yourself and your future. Join this micro-module to explore the cutting-edge world of TRIZ and Artificial Intelligence. Equip yourself with tools that turn challenges into opportunities.

Ready to start your journey? Access an online AndroïdApp that will be used in this course here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.netlify.trizapp.twa&pcampaignid=we b\_share 

Don’t just keep up with innovation—lead it.

Close-up of human eyes with digital and circuit overlays.

Inventive Design and Innovation

Understand Structured Creativity and Transform it into an Actionable Process

This international challenge invites students to contribute to the design and testing of a **Digital Key system** that enables smart, secure vehicle access using wireless technologies. Proposed by ACTIA, an international company with strong ties to universities and engineering schools, the challenge reflects real-world project workflows and offers a valuable entry point into the mobility sector.

The challenge is divided into two main assignments, each focused on a different wireless technology:

**Assignment 1 – BLE Subsystem**  
Students will develop a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based subsystem that detects and connects to nearby authorized devices, such as smartphones or smartwatches. When a moving object (BLE source) is detected and validated using a whitelist, a secure connection is established. The system then estimates proximity based on predefined zones around the vehicle (e.g., front, rear, left, right). Once the user is close enough, the system hands over to the UWB subsystem for more precise tracking.

**Assignment 2 – UWB Subsystem**  
The second assignment involves developing a UWB-based positioning system that activates after BLE handover. UWB allows for high-precision real-time tracking and can determine whether a user is inside or outside the vehicle. Students will build upon results from a previous CDIO collaboration, which identified key areas for improvement: system robustness, real-time operation, and vehicle-level integration.

**Real-World Application**  
Throughout the project, students will test their subsystems using real hardware (development kits provided by ACTIA) and evaluate their performance in both lab and real-world environments. Security, especially in the context of post-quantum threats, is a critical consideration.

Although the two sub-projects are technically independent, the final objective is to deliver a coherent, integrated system. Teams will need to coordinate at key milestones to ensure their components work together.

**Why It Matters**  
Wireless access and positioning systems are rapidly evolving across the automotive industry and beyond. Understanding their technical, security, and usability dimensions is crucial for engineers working in connected and autonomous vehicles, smart cities, or the Internet of Things (IoT). This challenge provides direct experience with these technologies while simulating how cross-functional teams operate in international, industry-driven contexts.

**Student Benefits**  
Participants will develop technical skills in wireless communication, embedded systems, real-time algorithms, and system integration. They will also gain experience in project management, teamwork, and intercultural collaboration. The challenge includes industry feedback and offers visibility with potential employers—making it not only a rich learning opportunity but also a professional springboard into the industry.

Multiple Wireless Technologies for Vehicles

A Concrete Use Case for Smart Cars

Transport and Mobility

Global citizenship

The student time in this challenge will be approximately 45 hours, with 30 hours of "classes" (onsite or online) with knowledge transfer, practical work and team work.   

The challenge includes 2 synchronous online sessions in the beginning and one session at the end of the challenge when the results are presented to the challenge provider. For the students choosing the option of the mobility week (week 4), there will of course be a number of synchronous and on-site activities, like visiting INSA and the labs, the university hospital and the challenger providers offices in Toulouse.   

The challenge will be carried out in small, intercultural and interdisciplinary teams. They will have to work together, but can agree on their time schedule and will work asynchronously during the challenge.  

Assessment will be divided in formative assessments during the challenge with small tasks to be done and a sommative assessment at the end of the challenge in the form of the prototype of the connected smart e-bike of the group and a presentation in English in front of a panel.

VESACCO: Smart e-bikes for health and green travel

Resilient communities

In a unique online environment, combining 50% synchronous and 50% asynchronous learning, you will collaborate in French with learners from different countries on two projects:

- *Discovering Lyon, France, and many other cities*
- *Studying here and there*

A French tutor will guide you through a variety of activities designed to support your group projects and encourage you to use French actively.

For example, you will be invited to talk about yourself, describe a city, share your interests, present your learning environment, discuss your studies and friends, and even exchange about food, nightlife, and other aspects of daily life.

The course takes an intercultural approach, helping you put things into perspective, and will also provide you with tools to prepare for a future international experience or exchange.

Language Studies - French (A2 Level)

Participate in an interactive online A2 level French class

Language learning

**What Does It Mean to Be an Engineer – Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow?**

When you hear the word *engineer*, what image comes to mind? Is it someone building machines, designing complex systems, or solving global challenges? How is engineering different from science? What makes someone truly an *engineer*?

In this course, you’ll explore and challenge your own ideas about what engineering is—and who gets to be an engineer. Through engaging discussions, videos, and short readings, you’ll discover how engineering has evolved across time, cultures, and disciplines. You’ll learn about real engineers—past and present—from different backgrounds and walks of life, including those who took unexpected career paths along the way.

This journey will help you build your own, updated vision of what it means to be an engineer today—and what kind of engineer *you* might become in the future.

**Course Highlights:**

- Discover how engineering is practiced in different fields, countries, and contexts
- Reflect on your own motivations and future path as an engineer
- Develop cultural awareness and communication skills
- Learn in English, but with a focus on ideas—not perfect grammar!

a diverse group of engineering students working on a project

Rethinking the Engineer

A Personal, Cultural, and Critical Exploration for Future Engineers

Intra-personal skills

This challenge introduces you to the essential steps of a frugal construction project, from initial design to hands-on implementation. It's structured in three parts:

- You'll begin with online lectures and readings covering key concepts such as bioclimatic design, eco-materials, and energy efficiency.
- Next, you’ll work in small groups to explore a specific topic in more depth, carrying out independent research and preparing to apply your findings.
- Finally, you’ll take part in a real-world building project on a public construction site near Rennes, where you’ll draft your own construction proposal and gain direct experience with materials and techniques.

Participation in all three phases is required. You’ll collaborate with students from INSA Rennes and the National School of Architecture in Brittany (ENSAB), working in multidisciplinary teams.

Throughout the module, you’ll be supported by faculty members with expertise in eco-design, bioclimatic architecture, sustainable urban planning, eco-materials, and home automation. During the on-site phase, you’ll also work alongside professionals from the construction industry, gaining valuable insights into how theory translates into practice.

Check out the following short video offering a recap on last year's iteration to find out more! [http://videos.insa-rennes.fr/video/0653-athabl-presentation-v2mp4/](http://videos.insa-rennes.fr/video/0653-athabl-presentation-v2mp4/)

Frugal Building: From Design to Construction

Take part in an eco-construction project in Brittany, France

Have you ever wanted to know more about how blood sugar and blood pressure is measured?  This micromodule focuses on digital health and uses innovative teaching  tools to focus on connected health devices, remote medical monitoring and the surveillance of human health at home or in a medical environment. It will enable a wide audience to discover the world of digital health, which is particularly interesting for students who will have a  link with healthcare in their future professional life, but also for everybody interested in health.

Students will work in multidisciplinary and intercultural teams to discover medical monitoring systems, the assembly of a virtual  reality object (electronic card), and the transmission and  analysis of medical data. Volunteers will be equipped with a blood sugar or pressure device to interpret their own data.  The students will choose in international teams  the sensor they would like to work on (blood sugar or blood pressure sensor).  They will produce 3D scans of the device and learn the basis of 3D modelling of an object. They will also disassemble their device in virtual reality.   The work can be done fully online, but a mobility week is proposed to allow international students to do practical work onsite at INSA Toulouse.

CARE (Medical Connected Sensors and Virtual Reality)

Discover medical monitoring systems, the transmission and analysis of medical data, and disassemble a sensor using VR

Imagine walking through your city on a scorching summer day, the heat reflecting off buildings and pavements intensifying with every step. This isn't just an inconvenience—it’s a growing reality for urban populations worldwide. Climate change is accelerating the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, and cities are bearing the brunt of it. The urban heat island effect, caused by dense infrastructure and limited green spaces, turns our cities into heat traps, making life increasingly uncomfortable and, for some, dangerously unsafe.

Faced with these challenges, the focus has shifted from simply reducing emissions to actively adapting our urban environments. How can we design cities that protect their inhabitants during extreme heat events? Enter climate shelters—innovative spaces designed to offer immediate relief from thermal stress. These can be public parks shaded by tree canopies, air-conditioned libraries, or cooling stations equipped with water fountains. Climate shelters don’t just address physical discomfort; they represent a shift in urban planning, prioritizing human well-being and resilience.

Cities like Barcelona, Paris, Rotterdam, and Brussels are leading the way, pioneering strategies to integrate climate shelters into their urban fabric. But what makes these solutions effective? And how can other cities adapt these ideas to their unique contexts?

This course invites you to explore these questions, delving into the science of urban microclimates and the art of designing adaptive urban spaces. By understanding the principles behind climate shelters, you'll gain insights into how thoughtful design can transform cities into havens of comfort and sustainability. Whether you're an aspiring architect, urban planner, or simply passionate about resilient cities, this course equips you to be part of the solution to one of our most pressing global challenges. Join us in reimagining urban life for a warming world.

Toulouse, located in the south-west of France, is at the forefront of the urban climate crisis, regularly hitting 40C and above during the summer. As such, Toulouse Métropole has been working in collaboration with local researchers for a number of years in order to initiate its climate transition. As part of this ECIU challenge, students will be invited to consider the potential deployment of a network of climate shelters in the city.

This work will help students grow skills across a vairety of disciplines including:

- Microclimatology for outdoor climate shelters and the study of the Toulouse climatic context
- Building thermics and building renovation for indoor climate shelters
- Energy for the energy supply of HVAC systems
- Geography and/or sociology for the accessibility of this network
- Architecture and/or urban planning for the integration of these spaces into a larger urban project

Developing a Network of Climate Shelters in Toulouse, France

The content of the module is divided into three parts:

1. Methodological lessons weeks 1 to 3
2. A 10-week Challenge
3. A final presentation and personal report on the learning experience (CBL approach)

The three elements are described below:

Method package:

Week1 (W1) – W3

- Design thinking & Challenge Thinking
- Pitching, innovation
- Intercultural competences
- Interdisciplinary approaches

W4 (3-7th of March): Open Week (optional): Hosting ECIU students for discussion, industrial visit, on-site visit, workshops on CBL and sustainable cities with experts

Challenge: W2 – W11:

- Brainstorming ideas for challenges
- Finding teams with common interest for a challenge and different Foursight profiles
- Write an essay with your motivation for the challenge (250 words) - Apply for a challenge or define a challenge
- Engage in the challenge as a team through Design Thinking methods - Define the main users of your potential answer to your challenge
- Investigate the possible outcomes of the challenge based on the user's needs
- Choose a proposal as an answer to your challenge
- Define in detail your proposal for a more sustainable city

Oral exam: W12: Presentation of the challenge, the final proposal to solve the challenge and the different steps which have led to the proposal.

Pedagogy: face-to-face, hybrid, distance learning for the method package, and hybrid for the challenge approach.

Green Innovators

Transform Your Campus

**Discover the Role of Lipids in Biotechnology**

This micromodule offers a hands-on exploration of microbial lipids and their potential as sustainable resources. Designed for students with a background in chemistry or biochemistry, the course provides a comprehensive overview of the biotechnology process, from theoretical concepts to practical application.

You will begin with self- and group-directed research, working collaboratively to answer a scientific question about lipids. This involves exploring current methods for lipid extraction and analysis and designing your own experimentation protocols. Through guided online sessions, you will refine your approach, integrating feedback from peers and professors to develop a clear plan for laboratory work. The course culminates in a week-long on-site lab experience at INSA Toulouse (from 3 to 6 of June 2025), where you will put your protocols into action. Using a yeast strain with biotechnological applications, you will extract and analyze lipids, gaining practical experience in laboratory techniques. This process will help you connect theoretical knowledge with hands-on experimentation, fostering a deeper understanding of the biotechnological pipeline.

By the end of the module, you will have honed your research and problem-solving skills, developed the ability to synthesize complex information, and experienced the dynamics of working in a multidisciplinary, international team. This micromodule not only deepens your expertise in biotechnology but also prepares you for real-world challenges in sustainable innovation.

Exploring the Potential of Microbial Lipids as Sustainable Resources

Combine your theoretical understanding with practical experiments

This micromodule is designed to give you both cutting-edge insights and practical skills in the fast-evolving field of advanced manufacturing. You’ll explore the intelligent systems and data-driven techniques that power smart machining, preparing you to engage with the future of industrial innovation.

This micromodule is part of a learning pathway co-offered by INSA Toulouse and the University of Trento.

- **Part I**, delivered by INSA Toulouse, runs from October to December 2025.
- **Part II**, delivered by the University of Trento, follows from January to May 2026.

This micromodule is the first element of **Part I,**and will be followed by a challenge before students move onto Part II, hosted by the University of Trento.

In this micromodule, the content is organised into three sections of approximately 10 hours each. Each section includes asynchronous online lectures, interactive assignments, and opportunities for guidance during designated class hours. Assessment is based on your performance in quizzes, assignments, and mini assignments.

By the end of this first part, you’ll have a strong understanding of how data can be applied to improve productivity and efficiency in real-world manufacturing contexts. The skills and knowledge gained in Part I are essential for progressing to Part II.

Close-up image of an industrial metal cog

Multi-Agent Systems for Smart Machining I

Prediction and Monitoring

Codes of ethics and research integrity frameworks are designed to promote trust, guide professional conduct, and ensure the quality and credibility of results. They help create confidence among citizens, institutions, and society at large. However, breaches of these frameworks not only occur—they're becoming more frequent, yet harder to identify, in a world marked by complexity, crisis, and the rapid spread of information across diverse and sometimes unreliable channels.

Misconduct can take many forms, and its motivations vary widely. In some cases, ethical lapses arise from ignorance or pressure; in others, from deliberate manipulation or blurred boundaries. Whatever the cause, navigating these situations requires more than just knowledge of the rules. It requires the ability to reflect critically, to connect actions with consequences, and to develop a personal ethical perspective that is both informed and resilient.

In this challenge, you’ll investigate real and hypothetical cases of misconduct, learn from experts in different fields, and begin to build your own framework for ethical reasoning—one that can guide your professional choices in an increasingly uncertain world. You'll work with IRAFPA (Institut de Recherche et d’Action sur la Fraude et le Plagiat Académiques), a French nonprofit organisation, to create a deliverable that will have an impact on young professionals currently working in the field.

But what that deliverable is will be up to you! Guided by your teamcher, you'll design and craft an output that you think will best serve early-career workers regarding their own professional and research ethics at a crucial moment in their fledgling careers. Put your ideas into practice by helping IRAFPA develop clear, compelling messages that resonate with young professionals navigating today's complex world.

Member universities may require additional information from applicants. Please read the application information section carefully and include any extra required information in this section.

Other

A cartoon girl trying to choose between right and wrong

Rethinking Professional Ethics : Deconstruct and Reconstruct Your Approach

Building Personal Integrity by Understanding Ethical Risk and Navigating Misinformation, and Polarization in a World of Complexity and Crisis

Media and information literacy

This module is structured in two main parts, covering two important aspects of quantum computing: communication and computation.

The communication part focuses on a secure quantum communication protocol, BB84. You'll be asked to understand and implement this protocol, and even to experiment with an actual demonstrator. The computation part introduces all the basic building blocks of computation, focusing on the Grover search algorithm. This search algorithm makes an explicit link with classical computing while demonstrating the advantages of quantum computers.

By the end of this module, you will have acquired a basic knowledge of quantum computing and communication that we hope will motivate you to take the next step into this dynamic field of computer science.

Quantum Communication and Computing

A Short Introduction

• Skills to be Gained: Master the TRIZ methodology through the FINDER platform, learn how to utilize cutting-edge AI technologies (GPT-4, deep learning, GANs, NLP), and develop advanced problem-solving techniques.

• AI’s Impact on the Targeted Field: Gain insights into how AI and LLMs enhance innovation processes and streamline the creation of groundbreaking solutions in industrial settings.

• Practical Application of Theoretical Knowledge: You will work hands-on with FINDER to tackle real-world challenges, applying TRIZ and AI technologies such as GPT-4 and GANs to generate actionable, industry-ready solutions.

• Interdisciplinary and International Collaboration: FINDER facilitates global teamwork and cross-sector cooperation, enabling participants to collaborate remotely with peers and industry experts.

TRIZ and AI-Driven Innovation

Unlock Advanced Problem-Solving at the Intersection of TRIZ, AI, and Industrial Revolution

**Unlock the Power of Intercultural Comprehension**

Are you eager to navigate the rich tapestry of **European languages** and **cultures**, enhancing your **communication skills** and **intercultural competence**? If so, this micro-module is designed for you!

In this engaging and dynamic course, you will explore the fascinating concept of **intercomprehension** – the ability to understand a language without having studied it formally. This skill is **invaluable** in our interconnected world, where grasping multiple languages opens doors to **diverse opportunities**.

You’ll delve into **12 languages**, including French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Catalan, Romanian, English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish, tailoring your learning to match your linguistic background.

**Collaborate, Reflect, and Challenge Yourself**

But it’s not just about languages. This module immerses you in the cultural nuances that shape communication and worldviews. Working in **multilingual** and **multicultural teams**, you will gain **hands-on experience** in collaborative projects, enhancing your **intercultural awareness**. You’ll also get the chance to participate in a unique **escape game** that will challenge you to apply everything you've learned in a **fun**, **interactive** setting.

Throughout the course, you’ll maintain a **reflective journal** to track your progress and insights, enhancing your self-reflection skills. This practice will help you critically evaluate your learning process and adapt your strategies for better outcomes.

By the end of this module, you will have strengthened your linguistic abilities and your capacity to work effectively in diverse teams – a skill highly valued in today’s globalised job market.

Join us and embark on a journey that will **expand your horizons, deepen your cultural understanding, and equip you with practical skills for the future.**

Intercomprehension Made Fun

Play Your Way to Understanding Romance and Germanic Languages

ADEME, the French Agency for Ecological Transition (Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Énergie), has conducted extensive research on the environmental impacts of consumer products, industrial goods, and other manufactured items. Their findings reveal that nearly 50% of our environmental footprint is tied to greenhouse gas emissions from products, making eco-design a critical strategy for reducing environmental harm. This micro-module offers a hands-on introduction to eco-design, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to make a tangible impact.

We will cover:

- How to conduct an eco-design study, with practical examples to guide your learning.
- How to use tools for environmental assessment, including life cycle analysis methods to measure and track progress toward sustainability goals.
- How to plan a product/environment-oriented policy, turning theory into actionable solutions for real-world application.

By the end of the module, you will be equipped to critically assess products, reduce their environmental footprint, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Object Environmental Footprint and Eco-Design

Rethinking an Object for a Sustainable Future

Circular economy

**Breathing New Life into Forgotten Spaces: The Bourges Urban Challenge**

Cities are constantly changing, but not all areas evolve at the same pace. Some spaces—like abandoned buildings, neglected lots, and urban wastelands—become stuck in limbo, left waiting for a new purpose. This challenge focuses on one such space: a disused school in the heart of a neighborhood.

Your mission? Reimagine how this space can be revitalized to benefit the community while respecting the environment, diversity, and well-being. This is your chance to think creatively about how cities can be shaped, lived in, and transformed.

### **Why Take On This Challenge?**

This challenge offers a unique opportunity to:

- **Explore Urban Development:** Discover the long-term processes involved in city building, from social dynamics to technical and regulatory aspects.
- **Reinvent Forgotten Spaces:** Propose innovative ways to repurpose urban areas, considering not just technical solutions but also social and environmental impacts.
- **Collaborate in a Multidisciplinary Team:** Work alongside students from INSA Bourges and ECIU, bringing together diverse perspectives to tackle complex urban issues.

### **Guidance and Support**

You won’t be tackling this alone. Throughout the challenge, you’ll receive support from:

- A **dedicated teacher** who will guide your group through the project and help you structure your deliverables.
- A **team of professionals and urban planners** actively involved in Bourges’ transformation, offering their insights and expertise.

This is more than just an academic exercise—it’s a chance to make a tangible difference in the way urban spaces are used. Ready to shape the future of Bourges?

A grassy public space with trees, benches, and a colorful children's playground. An apartment building is visible on the left under a partly cloudy sky.

Reinvent and Reimagine the City

Join the urban transformation of Bourges (France), European Capital of Culture 2028

Music plays a vital role in creating shared experiences and bringing people together. However, organizing and broadcasting a cultural event is no easy task. Festivals and municipalities must rethink how they design accessible, sustainable, and engaging experiences for all audiences—including people with disabilities, children, and underprivileged communities.

This is where our challenge comes in. Stepping into the role of creative engineers, students will collaborate with local stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that make music accessible to everyone. How can we design inclusive experiences that allow people with mobility restrictions or sensory impairments to fully participate in a festival? How can a city ensure that a cultural event reaches all its citizens, regardless of their background? How can we reduce the environmental impact of large-scale music events?

Over just a few days, student teams will tackle these critical questions, combining creativity, technology, and user-centered design to develop concrete, practical solutions. Their work will not only offer fresh perspectives but also provide actionable strategies for local decision-makers.

Engineering Solutions for Inclusive & Sustainable Live Music

Creathon INSA Hauts-de-France 2025

**Study differently. Think differently. Shape the city differently.**

Cities are constantly evolving — and with that change comes the opportunity to rethink how we live together. How can we design urban spaces that truly include everyone: children, students, workers, families, and newcomers alike?

Students in France today may be navigating full-time university studies, alternating between work and study, completing apprenticeships, or following professional training pathways. Each of these routes comes with its own challenges — from finding affordable housing and managing transport, to accessing support services and building a sense of community. These different journeys come with real challenges—and students need more than just services and entertainment to succeed. But shaping the future of a city means looking beyond services and entertainment: it’s about creating an environment where students feel seen, supported, and empowered.

As an international ECIU student, what fresh perspective or lived experience can you bring to help rethink student life in this transforming neighbourhood? This challenge invites participants to reimagine what it means to be a student in a transforming urban neighbourhood. How can we create an environment where all students, no matter their path, feel a sense of belonging and ownership in their city?

**This challenge invites you to dive into a real urban transformation project** happening right now in a neighbourhood of Bourges — a city preparing to become the European Capital of Culture in 2028. The area is undergoing major renewal, where questions of housing, mobility, sustainability, inclusion, and community life all come together.

And here’s the key: the city wants students — all 5,000 of them — to play a central role in shaping its future.

* * *

**Why join this challenge?**

You’ll work on a real, complex case with real impact.  
This isn’t just an academic exercise — your ideas could directly influence how Bourges evolves.

- **Explore urban renewal in action** with direct input from city officials and local experts.
- **Rethink what student life can look like** in a more inclusive, sustainable, and people-focused neighbourhood.
- **Develop practical, human-centred solutions** for how city spaces are used — from housing to public areas to mobility.
- **Work in a multidisciplinary team**, ideally with peers from INSA Bourges and the ECIU network, combining diverse skills and perspectives.

* * *

**How does it work?**

You’ll be supported every step of the way by:

- A **dedicated teacher** who will guide your group through the project and help you structure your deliverables.
- A **team of professionals and urban planners** actively involved in Bourges’ transformation, offering their insights and expertise.

* * *

As a student, temporary resident, or future professional, your fresh perspective is exactly what cities like Bourges need. You’ll bring critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity — and gain skills that matter for your future career.

**Ready to learn differently, act meaningfully, and leave your mark on a city?**  
Join the challenge — you’ll never look at urban life the same way again.

A group of students in a newly built residential neigbourhood.

Building Community: Connecting Students and Local Residents

Exploring strategies to build a resilient collective dynamic in Bourges, France

Imagine being at the forefront of industrial innovation, where AI and cutting-edge problem-solving techniques come together to transform how we tackle real-world challenges. In this challenge, you’ll dive into the powerful TRIZ methodology, enhanced by advanced AI technologies, to develop practical, industry-ready solutions. TRIZ stands for the ‘theory of inventive problem-solving’ and has been integrated by companies such as Samsung to promote innovation and dynamic problem-solving.

Using the FINDER platform, you’ll learn how to apply tools like GPT-4, deep learning, GANs, and NLP to solve complex problems. You’ll work on real industrial cases, collaborating with peers and industry experts from around the globe. This hands-on experience will not only help you master innovative methodologies but also give you a taste of how AI and large language models (LLMs) are reshaping industrial research and development.

Backed by an internationally renowned industrial partner and part of the AIARD initiative, this challenge is your chance to gain practical skills and build a strong foundation for working with AI-driven innovation.

Are you ready to push the boundaries of what’s possible?

Inventive Design and AI-Driven Innovation

Unlock Advanced Problem-Solving at the Intersection of Inventive Design, AI, and Industrial Revolution

Industry 4.0 is transforming manufacturing, and digital twins are at the heart of this shift—connecting the physical and digital worlds to minimize inefficiencies, reduce waste, and prevent downtime. In this challenge, you’ll design a smart digital twin of an industrial production line (e.g., a drawing product manufacturing system) using cutting-edge tools like Siemens NX MCD, TIA Portal, and AI-driven algorithms.

Based at INSA Strasbourg’s Factory of the Future—a high-tech lab equipped with NIRYO robots, PLCs, and IoT sensors—you’ll tackle real-world Industry 4.0 challenges while collaborating with peers and industry experts.

**Why join?**

- **Develop industry-ready skills:** Gain hands-on experience with Siemens NX, AI-driven predictive maintenance, and automation—expertise that top employers like Siemens are looking for.
- **Solve real challenges:** Optimize energy use, automate logistics, and improve precision in stamping processes using real-time sensor data.
- **Boost your career prospects:** Build a portfolio-ready digital twin prototype to showcase your ability to innovate in smart manufacturing.

From September to January, you’ll take part in hybrid workshops to prototype your system, test solutions with robots and PLCs, and pitch your ideas to industry leaders. No prior Siemens NX experience? No problem—training and datasets are provided. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to collaborate.

By the end, you won’t just understand Industry 4.0—you’ll help shape its future. Join a global community of innovators and gain the confidence to transform factories into smarter, more sustainable hubs of tomorrow.

**Are you ready to lead the Industry 4.0 revolution?**

To find out more about our department at INSA Strasbourg, follow the link below:

https://genie-electrique.insa-strasbourg.fr/

Industry 4.0 in Action

Designing Smart Digital Twins for Industrial Engineering Systems

This micro-module is a collaboration between 6 ECIU universities: UAB (Spain), KTU (Lithuania), UiS (Norway), UniTn (Italy), INSA (France), and UT (the Netherlands). This means you get to gain knowledge from experts of all these different universities! This is therefore a unique opportunity that offers multiple perspectives and an intercultural experience.

### **Why learning about interculturality matters**

Interculturality is a crucial skill in today’s globalized world, enabling effective communication and collaboration across cultural boundaries. It fosters empathy, helps navigate differences with respect, and is essential for addressing global challenges like climate change and migration. In academic and professional settings, intercultural competence is highly valued, supporting teamwork in diverse and international contexts. Personally, it enriches your worldview, enhances self-awareness, and opens you to new perspectives. By embracing interculturality, you contribute to a more inclusive and collaborative global society.

### **What you'll learn**

This online micro-module is designed to give you a comprehensive understanding of interculturality through a structured blend of expert-led lectures and interactive discussions. The course is divided into three thematic blocks, each building on the previous one to create a cohesive learning experience:

**Block 1: Understanding cultural differences**  

You’ll start by exploring foundational theories of culture, learning what defines and distinguishes cultures around the world. This block highlights the importance of cultural diversity in today’s globalized world, helping you develop an awareness of how cultural differences shape interactions and perceptions.

**Block 2: Global perspectives**  

In this section, you’ll examine the effects of migration, media representation, and the concept of global Englishes. These topics will give you a broader perspective on how cultural narratives evolve and influence societies across the globe. You’ll gain insights into how these factors contribute to both challenges and opportunities in intercultural communication.

**Block 3: Practical intercultural skills**  

The final block focuses on practical workshops to equip you with effective communication techniques for interacting across cultures. You’ll learn how to navigate cultural nuances in professional and personal settings, ensuring your interactions are respectful, clear, and impactful.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a deeper understanding of cultural theories, a global perspective on societal changes, and the practical tools to engage effectively in intercultural settings. This combination of theoretical and hands-on learning prepares you to adapt in diverse environments and address the complexities of global communication

Member university

INSA Group

Member university

INSA Group

Learning opportunities of INSA Group