EU Ideas Labs
EU Ideas Labs
Starting in the period of the German EU Council Presidency (second half of 2020), DAAD alumni associations and the DAAD network in the EU countries were asked to organise EU Ideas Labs for alumni. The Labs are designed to jointly develop forward-looking ideas for issues that are of particular importance for the future of the EU.
Alumni from EU countries and the Western Balkans provide ideas at events dealing with topics such as "The European Green Deal", migration or democracy in Europe. Due to the current CoVID-pandemic, the "Joint fight against pandemics" or the perspective "Europe Post-COVID" were added.
Relevant impulses from the EU Ideas Labs are invited to present their ideas at a hybrid DAAD alumni meeting in march 2022. With the alumni events on the topic of the European Union, we would like to contribute to the discussion process on the future of Europe, which is currently also being formally initiated at EU level with the "Conference on the Future of the EU". Please have a look and join the multi-lingual platform to discuss ideas, contribute your results and findings or announce an event to come on this website:
website of the conference "Future of EU"
Learn more about the planned and already held events!
The EU's "Green Deal" - your view of the European path to climate neutrality
The EU wants to become climate neutral by 2050 - and the way to get there is supposed to be via the "Green Deal".
What does Europe need in particular if the transition to a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy is to succeed? Which measures and targets do you find particularly important? How can the Green Deal and Corona crisis aid be thought together? What technologies should be invested in?
These future vision for a climate-neutral Europe were presented by DAAD alumni and discussed with experts and other DAAD alumni from different disciplines.
The participants with the most convincing ideas were nominated for participation in an EU-wide DAAD alumni meeting in March 2022 in Berlin.These are the winners:
Dr. Bálint Forgács, Experimental Psychologist & Cognitive Scientist. Topic: Cognitive Science, Framing
Dr. László Számel, University Lecturer, Chair of Electrical Power Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). Topic: Engineering, e-mobility, reluctance motors.
Find out more about EU Ideas Lab concerning the European Green Deal in this report on the Alumniportal Deutschland: Read more
Climate Change Transdisciplinary - Romanian Contributions to a Global and European Question for the Future
The event was opened with a greeting and an introductory lecture from the field of environmental sciences by Bettina Hofmann, Member of the German Bundestag. She is the environmental policy spokesperson for the Bündnis 90/ Die Grünen parliamentary group and serves on the Bundestag's Environment Committee. Her lecture was followed by a contribution from a representative of the Romanian Ministry of the Environment.
The main part of the event consisted of seven specialist presentations by DAAD alumni. The spectrum ranged from electrochemical analysis methods for environmental problems to climate protection through green hydrogen to the inspiring, albeit speculative, vision of emigration into space.
The winner of the Lab is Mihaela Andreea Voinea. Her presentation dealt with the possibilities of individual behavioural change in the area of consumption from the professional perspective of psychology.
Find out more about EU Ideas Lab concerning the European Green Deal in this report on the Alumniportal Deutschland: Read more
Ideas for Europe - European Green Deal - Sustainable Ecological Change
Climate change and environmental degradation are existential threats for Europe and the world. The European Green Deal therefore aims to make the transition to a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy a success. How can Europe tackle climate change and better protect the environment? What contribution can each and every one of us make? DAAD alumni from Serbia, Montenegro as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina present their answers to these and other questions at the EU Ideas Lab "Ideas for Europe - European Green Deal - Sustainable Ecological Change" from September 24-26, 2021 in Zlatibor, Serbia. A contribution by Tibor Moldvai (Heinrich Böll Foundation) was followed by impulses from alumni. A World Café provided space for lively discussions and exchange.
During the lab, new ideas and synergies emerged from the groups. The knowledge and experience from different disciplines and biographies as well as different countries created new results and a shared experience.
Selected members of two groups were invited to represent the alumni at the major alumni meeting in Berlin in March 2022. The first group dealt with the current issue of innovative and ecological lithium mining in Serbia. The second group came up with an idea to protect the environment, where a worldwide "supervisory board" would implement a common approach, monitoring and control on ecological issues.
These are the winners:
Group Worldwide supervisory board:
Professor Muhamed Brka (Bosnia and Herzegowina), Professor Naida Ademovic (Bosnia and Herzegowina), Professor Denis Kucevic (Serbia), Daliborka Maldaner (Serbia), Dr. Marija Vidovic (Serbia), Dr. Uros Andjelkovic (Serbia).Group Lithium:
Dr. Ilija Batas Bjelic (Serbia), Professor Milosav Georgijevic (Serbia), Professor Boban Stojanovic (Serbia).Related links:
- Short report on the DAAD Serbia website with links to the programme and the abstracts
- YouTube video of the Labs
Find out more about EU Ideas Lab concerning the European Green Deal in this report on the Alumniportal Deutschland: Read more
![Democratic Civil Society under Pressure - When Right-Wing Populism Becomes Powerful...]()
Invitation to the EU Ideas Lab - European Way of Life
Democratic civil society under pressure - When right-wing populism becomes powerful...For some years now, most countries in Europe have been experiencing a growing influence of right-wing populist parties. Against this background, the DAAD Freundeskreis e.V. (Circle of Friends) held an EU Ideas Lab from 17-19 June 2021 on the topic of "Democratic Civil Society under Pressure - When Right-Wing Populism Becomes Powerful...". In workshops and panel discussions, with the participation of DAAD alumni from Germany and Hungary, solution-oriented work was done on what and how civil society can counter this pressure... (learn more)
Find out here why the weekend together has inspired three DAAD alumni for the long term.
EU Ideas Lab "Aspects of the Future of Europe"
On June 3, 2021, four participants presented their ideas for the future of the European Union and discussed them among themselves and with representatives of the DAAD, the German Embassy, Charles University and Czech Radio.
The jury chose Kristina Kubíková as the winner with her contribution "Music as a common language of the European Union".
![Europe in Pictures - Creative Competition]()
Europe in pictures - Creative Competition - DAAD Alumni Ideas Lab on "Ideas for Europe"
The virtual vernissage took place on the 8th of April, 2021
The DAAD regional office Paris has been launching the creative competition "Europe in Pictures" in spring 2021. DAAD alumni of all ages were asked to creatively express their vision of a future Europe and their wishes for shaping European togetherness. "Europe in Pictures" thus represents the French DAAD EU Ideas Lab 2021. The winners of this competition are invited to contribute to the EU-wide alumni meeting, which probably will take place in spring 2022 in Berlin.
Ten submissions selected by a jury of experts are going to be exhibited and presented to a Franco-German audience within the year 2021.
![EU Idea Lab Poland 2020]()
EU-Ideas-Lab POLAND: "Small steps, big change - local activities against climate change
How can everyday life and the immediate environment be made more sustainable? This question was at the center of the EU Ideas lab in Warsaw, which took place during 4th and 5th of September. Special times require special measures, which is why the format - originally planned as a face-to-face event - needed to be transformed into a digital format. On a positive note this opened the door for discussions on the possibility of "digital" campaigns and measures against climate change. The participants were welcomed by the new head of the DAAD office Warsaw, Dr. Martin Krispin before the event kicked off with the screening of the brand new polish-canadian documentary "It's okay to panic" and a Q and A session with the director of the movie. The further program included input and discussions of DAAD alumni and experts in the field of sustainability activism. Among the numerous suggestions made by the participants for local approaches to climate protection, the idea of a "social media challenge" on the subject emerged, which will aim to generate attention and encourage participation. The DAAD office in Warsaw will accompany this social media challenge in the coming months and thus pursue the topic of climate change
in Poland as a joint European effort.Find out more about this EU Ideas Lab in this report on the Alumniportal Deutschland: Read more
Find out more about EU Ideas Lab concerning the European Green Deal in this report on the Alumniportal Deutschland: Read more
On 14 and 15 May 2020, DAAD alumni from Italy, Slovenia and Croatia from many different disciplines spent two days exchanging ideas on the topic of migration. The goal: The development of innovative and promising concepts for research networks on the topic of migration.
The workshop units were extremely productive and characterised by high motivation, expertise and creativity. All participating alumni were enthusiastic about the virtual format, the competitive character of the event and the close cooperation with international colleagues from different fields unknown to them before. While the jury selected an outstanding concept entitled "EUrope and migration representations in dialogue" as the winner, the other ideas and projects that emerged are also extremely suitable for further pursuit in the future. To this end, a virtual follow-up meeting has already taken place on 29 May.
Find out more about this EU Ideas Lab in the captivating report on the Alumniportal Deutschland: Read more
