SmartCampusLab is an inter-university, practice-oriented innovation platform that enables students to independently develop digital, sensor-based, and data-driven solutions for smart cities, regions, and sustainable application domains.

At its core, the platform builds on an existing demonstrator, SmartGreenZitty.Net, which is being extended into an open teaching and research platform. Students from different disciplines, including computer science, natural sciences, engineering, and business, work together on real-world challenges and implement them in the form of microservices, sensor systems, and concrete use cases.

Objectives

The project aims to develop and evaluate an innovative teaching format that:

• actively involves students in the development of real digital systems

• promotes interdisciplinary collaboration

• strengthens project-based and research-oriented learning

• enables new formats for bachelor’s and master’s theses

• fosters competencies in digitalization, sustainability, and systems thinking

Innovative aspects

The project combines several innovative elements:

• Platform approach: students do not only develop isolated projects, but actively contribute to a shared system platform

• Interdisciplinarity: combination of IT topics such as microservices with sensor technology and application-oriented domains such as smart city, environmental monitoring, and agriculture

• Real-world laboratory character: use of real data and practical applications instead of purely theoretical tasks

• Open architecture: extensibility for future integration of additional universities and partners

Didactic concept

SmartCampusLab is based on a project-based, student-centered learning approach:

• development in interdisciplinary teams

• integration into courses, student projects, and final theses

• use of modern software architectures such as microservices

• combination of theory, experimentation, and practical application

In this setting, students take on active roles as developers, system designers, and innovators.

Planned implementation (pilot phase)

Planned activities include:

• establishing and opening the platform

• integrating the platform into teaching formats

• carrying out first student projects

• developing initial use cases, for example in environmental monitoring, smart campus applications, energy, and agriculture

Added value

For students:

• practice-oriented skills

• interdisciplinary collaboration

• experience in real projects and applied research

For universities:

• innovative teaching formats

• stronger transfer activities and visibility

• new opportunities for cooperation

For the region and society:

• development of concrete solutions for smart regions

• support for innovation and young talent