Futurize with us in Nature’s Learning Lab!
During SOAK Biomimicry 2024 you will engage with Nature directly and learn from her genius to address pressing challenges that humanity is facing at this time, such as the climate and biodiversity crises hitting the region of Karwendel in Tyrol, in particular, the local woodlands and forests.
The vision of SOAK Biomimicry 2024 is a) to motivate people to integrate Nature-inspired, regenerative concepts and actions for alleviating the climate and biodiversity crises in their own lives and environments and b) to empower them to demand and initiate the necessary sustainability actions in their spheres of influence.
Join us in co-developing ideas and design concepts for triggering a transformation in people's ways of thinking and behaving through Biomimicry—a philosophy and praxis for sustainable innovation inspired by Nature.
GETTING TO INNSBRUCK
We encourage you to choose sustainable travel options and consider the many train connections between major European hubs and Innsbruck, including several night trains. Should you have to fly, please consider CO2 compensation. We recommend the Austrian climate mitigation project of the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna. Getting around in Innsbruck is easily doable on foot.
By train: Innsbruck's central station is located at Südtiroler Platz, within easy walking distance of the city center. Get your ticket here: ÖBB-Austrian Railways.
By coach: the coach service of Flixbus provides you with a convenient and low-cost way to travel to Innsbruck within Europe.
By car: Innsbruck is connected to major European motorways arriving from the North (Western Europe and Germany via Munich), from the South (Italy via Verona), from the West (Switzerland via Zurich) and from the East (Hungary via Vienna). This means that Innsbruck can be reached by car within a couple of hours driving from Central, Western and Eastern Europe.
By plane: The airport of Innsbruck is located 10 minutes from the city center and has excellent coach and taxi connections. Short check-in times as well as a smooth and fast processing upon arrival are guaranteed. The airport handles regional flights around the Alps as well as international flights to European destinations. Further info can be found here. Other airports with international flights, reachable within 2 to 4 hours from Innsbruck: Munich Airport (Germany), Vienna International Airport (Austria), Verona Airport (Italy).
Planner Assistants:
The Man in seat 61: A website with lots of advice for train travelers, including itineraries and links to booking sites
RailCC: Website where you can add your staring and arrival point and get the different possible train itinaries and links to booking sites
Booking Sites:
Trainline.com: An app and site used to find international rail tickets
Compare a Bus: An app and site used to find international bus tickets
Inspiration:
Travel With Canie: Inspirational site with benefits for travelling by train, bus or carpooling, amongst other.
Please be aware that July is one of the busiest times of the year in Innsbruck, and affordable accommodation might be difficult to find, so book as soon as your place in the Summer Academic is confirmed (or, if you are keen, book earlier with the option to cancel if needed).
Here are some options for budget accommodation:
Nepomuks B&B Backpackers Hostel Innsbruck
Kiebachgasse 16, A-6020 Innsbruck
Montagu Bed & Beers
Höttinger Gasse 7 - 9 Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck
Internationales Studentenhaus gem. GmbH
Rechengasse 7, A-6020 Innsbruck
Studentenwohnheim Saggen
Gänsbacherstraße 4, A-6020 Innsbruck
STUWO Innsbruck
Kranebitter Allee 30, A-6020 Innsbruck
Studentenheim Savoy
Höttinger Au 26/4, A-6020 Innsbruck
Air B&B is also a good option for accommodation in Innsbruck: www.airbnb.at/innsbruck-austria/stays
And you can also try one of MCI’s Partner Hotels, which can be found here.
Innsbruck is a walkable city, so we encourage you to get around the city on foot. In case there is a need to drive, you can always rely on the city's excellent public transport network. Furthermore you can also have a look at the bike rental system of the city of Innsbruck with over 340 bikes and more than 40 locations.
Please use the tool below for quick access to all public transport links:
Dates
- 4 Preparatory Webinars for Accepted Participants: 6 June, 20 June, 27 June, 4 July 2024 (evenings, about 2 hours long)
- Face to Face / Biomimicry Immersion Week: 14 - 20 July 2024
Location Immersion Week
- Innsbruck — Seefeld — Hochzirl
Karwendel Region, Tyrol, Austria
Costs
- Tution: Participation in SOAK Biomimicry 2024 is free of charge
- Registration Fee: EUR 199.– non-refundable (for accepted participants)
APPLICATION DEADLINE
- 31 March 2024
Program
Find out more information about the full SOAK program, application and registration process, locations, costs and other details.
Application
Who can apply? Students / alumni of all levels or employees from Universities of Applied Sciences, from the University of Applied Arts Vienna and from other universities and tertiary educational institutions
How to apply? Complete the application form and upload any attachments (max. 3 MB) or transfer larger files via wetransfer.com to SOAK2024@mci.edu. Remember to label all files with your name.
Apply by 31 March 2024.
You will get notified whether or not you have been accepted to the program by 15 April 2024.
If you experience any problems when applying please contact:
Regina Obexer
SOAK Biomimicry 2024 Organizing Team Lead
MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®
Center for Responsible Management & Social Impact
+43 512 2070-1922
SOAK2024@mci.edu
Review SOAK Biomimicry 2023
See what happened during the SOAK Biomimicry 2023 Summer Academy which took place in the Lake Neusiedl Region in Burgenland Austria:
SOAK ORGANIZERS
SOAK is an initiative of the COOP Sustainable Universities – a cooperative of 15 Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences that collaborate with other Austrian and international universities toward sustainable futures.
SOAK Biomimicry 2024 is led by the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland, organized and hosted by MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® and supported by the FHV – Vorarlberg. In this effort, they partner with the University of Applied Arts Vienna.
SOAK Biomimicry 2024 contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
