Image
Creativity and Innovation Centre VGTU "LinkMenų fabrikas".
Published on 12 February 2018
Lithuania
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
By be end of 2015, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) has opened the “Linkmenų fabrikas” (engl. “LinkArts Factory“) in Lithuania as the centre for product design, innovation and creative industries.
The developed 1100 sq.m. area of workshops is a common VGTU project with Edinburgh Napier University to improve the quality of studies and interaction with R&D activities in the field of creative and cultural industries. The target groups of the project are students, educators and national business enterprises and educational institutions. The practice is about to provide access for youth of trained workshop specialists, better resources and skills for developing and implementing their innovations or prototypes. The introduced hands-on applied research will improve prototype production and development of new research technologies in installed training and research laboratories for high added value startups.
“Linkmenų fabrikas” has introduced new learning methodologies from the experience of other higher education institutions in that field, i.e. the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) and Aalto University.
The developed 1100 sq.m. area of workshops is a common VGTU project with Edinburgh Napier University to improve the quality of studies and interaction with R&D activities in the field of creative and cultural industries. The target groups of the project are students, educators and national business enterprises and educational institutions. The practice is about to provide access for youth of trained workshop specialists, better resources and skills for developing and implementing their innovations or prototypes. The introduced hands-on applied research will improve prototype production and development of new research technologies in installed training and research laboratories for high added value startups.
“Linkmenų fabrikas” has introduced new learning methodologies from the experience of other higher education institutions in that field, i.e. the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) and Aalto University.
Resources needed
To develop 1100 sq.m. of workshop premises with metal, wood, 3D printing, audio-video/media, construction and testing area. Budget is approx. 1,5 mln. Eur. including all necessary equipment and tools for workshops.
Evidence of success
Local and regional SMEs has started to collaborate with "Linkmenų fabrikas" in a variety of ways: to do experiments by various their prototypes of products, VGTU scientists helping SMEs with technical advice, students creates media/promo recordings of future services or products, several non-profit fundraising projects has been done, i.e. "The burning man". VGTU “Link Art factory" space become now as the excellent venue for startup fairs, hackathons, makers training etc.
Potential for learning or transfer
- Combining theoretical and hands-on training is a key factor to improve/hit the practical skills requested by the labour market.
- Closer cooperation among students from neighboring universities offers an opportunity to improve interdisciplinary skills.
- Ability to create quick connection for youth (students) with SMEs in product development or prototyping.
- The workshops provides the 'makers' spirit and interdisciplinary attitude for youths.
- Closer cooperation among students from neighboring universities offers an opportunity to improve interdisciplinary skills.
- Ability to create quick connection for youth (students) with SMEs in product development or prototyping.
- The workshops provides the 'makers' spirit and interdisciplinary attitude for youths.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Ministry of Education and Science
Austria
Burgenland
Contact
Innovation consultant