Innovator in the Spotlight

Towards a more inclusive society to raise awareness of basic skills gaps

In the Netherlands, 2.5 million people struggle daily with reading, writing, math, and digital skills, also called basic skills. These deficiencies make it difficult for them to fully participate in society, such as reading and understanding a letter or buying a train ticket, leading to various personal and societal problems.

Emergence Lab

Lines

It is envisaged that the Eindhoven Engine ecosystem can be unleashed up to yet another level when organizational barriers are lowered, and interpersonal exchange and combination of ideas and skills are actively stimulated. Our starting point is not technological solutions, but rather the societal challenges themselves. Inspiring and challenging ‘moon-shot’ goals with associated deadlines are essential, as well as dedicated selection and coaching of team members, collaborating in an inspiring work and meeting space which stimulates and facilitates the joint execution of their innovation projects.

In cooperation with numerous partners, Eindhoven Engine has decided to contribute to a deeper understanding and the design of a number of meaningful interventions, addressing the huge societal challenges of a Livable Region and Low Literacy. With that purpose in mind, Eindhoven Engine will bring together an ecosystem of students, researchers, start-ups and corporations to co-create, in an open innovation mindset, meaningful and socially driven solutions.

Livable region challenge

The Livable Region program focuses on the complex regional challenges of the 21st century. Within the unique innovative ecosystem of Brainport Eindhoven, we join forces to find solutions to societal issues.

Our contemporary society faces imminent challenges that relate to the quality, sustainability, and resilience of our environment, society, and economy. The region must adapt to issues such as scale jump, climate change, social inclusivity, and economic transitions, which are inherently regional challenges. These problems are intertwined with our current system. Eindhoven Engine employs an approach through the wicked problem methodology to transcend system boundaries.

Low Literacy challenge

In cooperation with the Eindhoven Library, Eindhoven municipality and numerous other partners Eindhoven Engine is contributing to designing and implementing meaningful interventions for the social problem that is low literacy.

Eindhoven Engine is currently focusing on :

  1. Finding people that have difficulties in reading, writing, doing math and/or digital skills
  2. Motivating them to start learning and practicing the basic competencies such as writing and speaking the Dutch language
  3. Designing alternative learning programs to facilitate learning and practicing the basic competencies

 

With these topics in mind Eindhoven Engine brings together students from Avans & Fontys and TU/e to work on and experiment with the topic of low literacy.

Whether you are a student, a young professional or a company that is interested in working with us on these problems contact us on office@eindhovenengine.nl ! We are always looking for enthusiastic students and companies to pick up these projects and turn them into something valuable.