What happens if you let school children solve the challenges of entrepreneurs? In the Innovation Hack for Future Entrepreneurs project, BizMaker enlisted the help of Technichus and Västernorrland companies to create a unique, educational challenge. Now the result is here - and the future finally feels exciting again.
"The roof is loose!"
A slight nervousness is in the air at Technichus in Härnösand as some fifty primary school students gather to present their best ideas to curious clients. The group from grade 2 at Solenskolan is adjusting the details of their large 3D model to convince the adults, and the loose roof is coming back into place. Soon it will be time.
"Innovation hack for future entrepreneurs" is organized by BizMaker in collaboration with Technichus, the business community and schools from the municipalities of Sundsvall and Härnösand. The students have been given three assignments from companies in the region to solve, and worked on the project on five occasions during the spring.
Södra Berget in Sundsvall has asked: What does the hotel of the future look like - and what do you do there?
The pupils of Högom School Year 2 have identified a clear problem: Being a child in a hotel is boring! Their vision has everything it takes to change that. A fully equipped play hall with a slide, bouncy castle, football and floorball fields, a climbing corner with a fire pole but also a place to rest and recover is presented as a 3D model in paper, cardboard and recycled materials. Free play with one important exception: adults are only allowed in the company of their children!
South Mountain representative Anton Lukeniuk is delighted.
- We sit in meeting after meeting and discuss these things. Here we have the facts, we just have to start building!
The Sofia Institute in Härnösand has asked the question: What does the future of tourism look like?
Founder Agneta Nyholm has sent with the children some keywords: Natural, slow, evolving, bonding, meaningful and spectacular.
A series of magnificent presentations from Year 2 at Solenskolan, Brännaskolan and Gerestaskolan set the scene for a spectacular future Härnösand.
First, a water-based adventure park with an aquarium, a whirlpool and a place to gather around a fireplace to hang out with family and friends. Then an adventure land where, in addition to swimming and slides, you will be able to ride a bike on a trick track or do arts and crafts.
The next presentation takes the form of a digital tour of a Minecraft model, where pupils have created their own amusement park with a fairground, zoo and trampoline park. Last but not least, a combined high-altitude course and escape room facility is presented, where visitors must solve high-level problems in order to move on and return to the ground. All built in an imaginative model format. The facility will be located on Vårdkasberget and target the 6-65 age group," say the second graders.
- It makes me happy! We really need to stimulate play throughout life, and it's great to hear how so many senses are involved in the ideas. You are the ones who will design the future, and I will certainly take that with me," says Agneta Nyholm.
The final challenge comes from the Berg & Hjort restaurant in Sundsvall: What is the future of ice cream?
The pupils at Bergsåker F-2/Österro school describe their process, where they first reviewed existing ice creams and then created completely new varieties in terms of taste, shape and serving. The ideas are likely to be enough for Berg & Hjort for a long time to come: Tortilla ice cream! Pizza ice cream where you cut pieces of one flavor at a time! Buddy ice cream split in two! In the end, the students have come up with three concrete proposals.
The sushi ice cream is shaped like delicate sushi pieces, but still tastes like ice cream, and you don't have to choose a single flavor. The coconut ice cream is served in natural nutshell packaging, with a straw.
The last group had a hard time deciding between their ice cream robot and the unique ice cream hat, but eventually chose the hat. It has ice cream hanging from a rotating board, so you can taste the ice cream that is currently hanging in front of you. There is also a bowl of bullet ice cream at the top.
- It was difficult to come up with new ice creams, because there are already so many. But we have great ideas," says Agnes Westin from Bergsåker F-2/Österro.
- "It's fun to use your imagination, because then you can come up with whatever you want," says Enya Andersson, who helped develop the water park.
She is joined by BizMaker's business developer Jonny Nissilä.
- This is what distinguishes children from adults, that you can think completely differently. That's what we adults need!
That was the big question of the day: Will the adults listen and turn the ideas into reality? Of course, most thought, while some pointed to the high cost of building a water park. But perhaps we got a hint of the future when Tommy Wikström from Berg & Hjort was heard talking on the phone on his way out of the innovation hack, saying:
"Hey, they had the best idea in the world..."
ASSIGNMENTS FROM COMPANIES
Hotell Södra Berget in Sundsvall: What does the hotel of the future look like - and what do you do there?
Restaurang Berg och Hjort in Sundsvall: What does the ice cream of the future look like?
Sofiainstitutet in Härnösand: What does the slower way of tourism of the future look like?
THE SCHOOLS THAT SOLVED THE CHALLENGES:
Härnösand
Brännaskolan grade 2
Geresta grade 2
Solenskolan grade 2
Sundsvall
Bergsåkers skola (Österro) year 1
Högom skola year 2
CONTACT:
Klara Ördell, Project Manager BizMaker
073 097 26 48
klara.ordell@bizmaker.se
Maria Gråhammar, teacher Technichus
0611-34 69 37
maria.grahammar@technichus.se
Christina Nordlander, teacher
070-676 21 99
Österro/Bergsåker school
