MAKEATHONS

Why MAKEATHONS specifically combine innovation, the recruitment of young talent and interdisciplinary collaboration

Innovative minds secure a company’s future – yet skilled professionals with expertise in IoT, robotics, artificial intelligence, smart automation or smart green energy are scarce and highly sought-after. At the same time, good ideas often go untapped in day-to-day business because there is a lack of scope for rapid, interdisciplinary experimentation.

The key difference: since 2016, ITQ has been organising its own MAKEATHONS – innovation festivals in which students, apprentices and trainees from various disciplines work in an agile and interdisciplinary manner to develop prototypes and technological concepts in a very short space of time. With 42 MAKEATHONS now held across 6 countries, over 1,400 ideas developed, more than 4,500 participants, 350 participating universities and 1,200 prototypes realised, ITQ is one of the most experienced organisers of this format.

Your benefits at a glance:

Development of new, innovative ideas and concepts
Recruiting qualified young talent
Establishing technological partnerships with universities and other partners
Developing your individual industry challenge
Transfer of knowledge and expertise between companies and talented individuals
Networking within an innovation community that has grown on an international scale

Finding the right solution together

Your personal contact at Mechatronic Consulting will be happy to advise you on your specific enquiry.

Get in touch now for a no-obligation consultation.

Jonas Fischer

Consultant at ITQ

„As a company, we have a responsibility to prepare the younger generation for the future. Through our MAKEATHONS, we are making an important contribution to safeguarding innovation and digitalisation in Germany.“

Do good ideas tend to fall by the wayside in your day-to-day work?

In many companies, creative ideas emerge but go to waste because there is a lack of time, interdisciplinary dialogue and a suitable format. At the same time, competition for talented young professionals is becoming fiercer – those who fail to engage them at an early stage will lose them to the competition.

This is exactly where ITQ comes in: through the „MAKEATHON“ – a portmanteau of „MAKE“ and „MARATHON“ – we bring together companies, universities and students, who work in several interdisciplinary teams to tackle a specific industry challenge. This results in tangible prototypes rather than mere concept papers, all within a very short space of time.

Typical challenges

Typical challenges within a company:

Good ideas often come to nothing in day-to-day business without producing any concrete results
Lack of access to qualified young talent in the competition for skilled workers
Innovation initiatives remain too theoretical and produce too few tangible results
Lack of links with universities and international innovation partners

Only an approach that specifically brings together time, subject areas and hands-on work can truly turn ideas into prototypes – and talented individuals into future skilled workers.

Services relating to MAKEATHONS

ITQ designs, organises and facilitates MAKEATHONS for companies, universities and international partners – from the initial Industry Challenge right through to the finished prototype:

An overview of our services

Design and organisation of bespoke MAKEATHON formats
Developing specific industry challenges in collaboration with the company
Putting together and leading interdisciplinary teams comprising students, trainees and apprentices
Professional and technical support during implementation
Presentation, evaluation and dissemination of the prototypes produced

Methodological expertise

Facilitation of international, interdisciplinary innovation initiatives
Rapid prototyping with in-depth technical implementation
Setting up and managing short-term team formats
Teaching future skills such as creativity and initiative
Networking between businesses, universities, industry associations and institutions worldwide

Procedure for MAKEATHONS

A successful MAKEATHON thrives on a clear structure and intensive on-site support. ITQ combines methodical preparation with practical facilitation – a approach that has now been tried and tested in 42 events worldwide.

Project phases

Identifying topics and the Industry Challenge

Defining the scope of the project in consultation with the company involved and the target group.

Concept for the format

Planning the workflow, team composition and required resources at each location.

Team selection

Forming interdisciplinary teams comprising students, trainees and apprentices from different disciplines.

Implemen&shytation and support

An intensive working phase with technical support and facilitation provided by ITQ.

Presentation and evaluation

In order to develop soft skills as well as hard skills, all teams present their prototypes in a very short space of time. Afterwards, the results are analysed and further collaboration is initiated.

MAKEATHONS in practice

Sector: Logistics, Mechanical Engineering

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Further ITQ solutions

The services described form part of ITQ’s comprehensive service portfolio. ITQ combines technological expertise, a methodical approach and a deep understanding of processes to deliver sustainable solutions throughout the entire life cycle.

FAQs – MAKEATHONS

What is a MAKEATHON?

A MAKEATHON – a portmanteau of „MAKE“ and „MARATHON“ – is a time-limited, intensive event in which interdisciplinary teams of young talents work together to turn an idea into a working prototype.

Since when has ITQ been organising makeathons?

ITQ has been organising MAKEATHONS since 2016, with the first event taking place in Munich. Since then, the concept has been continuously developed and rolled out in other countries.

Who takes part in ITQ’s MAKEATHONS?

Students, trainees and apprentices from a variety of disciplines – now totalling over 4,500 participants from 350 higher education institutions in 6 countries.

What role does ITQ play during a MAKEATHON?

ITQ designs the format, works out the Industry Challenge with the company, puts teams together and oversees the process and technical implementation.

Any further questions ...

What topics are suitable for a MAKEATHON?

In particular, issues relating to the Internet of Things, robotics, artificial intelligence, smart automation, smart mobility and smart green energy.

How do businesses benefit from a MAKEATHON?

You will receive physical prototypes for your Industry Challenge, gain access to qualified young talent and become part of an internationally networked innovation community.