Sustainable Digitalization and Digital Sufficiency: Concept workshops #1

6 February 2025, 16:00–18:00 @ UZH Digital Society Initiative, Eventraum SOC-E-010, Rämistrasse 69, 8001 Zürich, free Map

The first of two concept workshops in the fourth round of the Prototype Fund, hosted by the University of Zurich's Digital Society Initiative. The round looked for open source projects that reduce absolute resource and energy consumption in Switzerland with or through digital technology – «digital sufficiency». Anyone with an idea, or looking for a team, could sharpen it here.

After an introduction by programme lead Verena Kontschieder, Dr. Mario Angst (Digital Society Initiative, UZH) gave an expert input and feedback on the participants' mini pitches. In the second part they worked on a Miro board that takes up the questions of the application form step by step – from the societal challenge through the prototype and its impact to team, milestones and risks. The application deadline was 20 March 2025.

Programme

1. 16:00
   Introduction

   Welcome, the Prototype Fund's goals and why this round focuses on sustainable digitalisation and digital sufficiency. Look back at three rounds: more than 160 applications, 16 funded projects, 8 of them with follow-up funding.

   Verena KontschiederProgrammleiterin Prototype Fund
2. Expert input with Q&A

   Experience and advice from a researcher at the University of Zurich's Digital Society Initiative.

   Mario AngstDigital Society Initiative, Universität Zürich
3. Cross-share ideas

   Mini pitches in small groups (max. 3 minutes per idea), with feedback from Mario Angst.

   Mario AngstDigital Society Initiative, Universität Zürich
4. Break
5. Refine ideas and prepare the application

   Work on a Miro board whose sections follow the questions of the application form: project idea and societal challenge, prototype and impact on resource and energy use, target group and technology, differentiation and team, milestones, continuation and risks. Plus: why public interest tech projects fail, and the round's selection criteria.

6. –18:00
   Final Q&A and networking

   Final questions, then an optional get-together to network and find team members.

Read the original announcement

Ready to take your sustainable tech project idea to the next level? Join us for the Prototype Fund Concept Workshops where you can refine your idea, get expert feedback, and exchange with others who share your passion for sustainable digitalization and digital sufficiency – and potentially complement your skills.

Whether you already have an idea or are looking to team up with others, this is a unique opportunity to align your project with the Prototype Fund’s submission criteria and goals.

Concept workshop #1:* 06.02.2025, 16:00 – 18:00 @ UZH, Rämistrasse 69, 8001 Zürich – *
Concept workshop *#2: 26.02.2025, 12:15 – 13:45 @ Online (link tba) –

The events are free of charge.

Who Should Attend?

• Innovators, entrepreneurs, developers, researchers, activists, and teams already working on or interested in working on tech sustainability and/or sufficiency projects.
• Those who are looking to refine their ideas, collaborate, and receive constructive feedback.
• Anyone looking to make an active difference at the intersection of technology, ecology, and systemic transformation.

Should I Attend Both Events?

First of all: Attendance of events in the *application phase is not mandatory to submit your application. However, both concept workshops seek to help you refine your ideas and prep for submission. The crowd and experts present will differ: While Dr. Mario Angst (Digital Society Initiative, UZH) joins us on 6 Feb, Dr. Leonard Creutzburg (One Planet Lab, WWF) will be our special guest on 26 Feb. Also, since the 26 Feb is hosted online, it might result in little extra effort for you to join both, with the added benefit of working on your idea refinement getting to know like-minded folks.

We love to see you there!

Host

Sponsor