Digital Transformation with a Social Impact—How Students Develop Solutions to Real-World Challenges
At the Lokhalle in Freiburg, it’s not just about coding—above all, it’s about listening.
“Our problem isn’t the technology; it’s that people can’t find a way to access it,” says a representative of a social enterprise. Six Wirtschaftsinformatik students stand at the whiteboard, searching for a solution. This is exactly where effective digitalization begins: with real needs.
This principle is at the heart of the POSITIVE Impact Challenge. As early as 2024, 26 students from Hochschule Offenburg participated in this intensive, hands-on program, which was initiated by the Freiburg Innovation Center Grünhof e.V. and the Steinbeis Europa Center. The university and social organizations work closely together to develop digital solutions for specific societal challenges.
In 2026, the POSITIVE Impact Challenge continued in Freiburg: From April 14 to 16, mixed teams of students and industry partners came together for a creative workshop. In the weeks that followed, the goal was to create the first functional software prototypes, which will be tested and further developed directly with future users.
From Idea to Application
The results from 2024 show how digitalization can help in very concrete ways:
A platform quickly and seamlessly connects sign language interpreters.
An app connects seniors with neighborhood assistance in their area.
A digital booking tool simplifies the organization of sex education workshops in schools.
A multilingual platform makes educational opportunities accessible to diverse target groups.
An existing counseling app is being further developed to provide faster and more intuitive support in crisis situations.
The focus is not on abstract visions of the future, but on solutions for today’s needs.
For students, this means more than just technical implementation: they learn to understand user perspectives, design with empathy, and develop digital solutions that truly work in everyday life.
The POSITIVE Impact Challenge combines teaching, practical experience, and social responsibility. It strengthens social innovation in the region and demonstrates how knowledge transfer arises through collaboration—not through concepts on paper, but through joint development.
Since 2026, the initiative has also taken on a European dimension: the Challenge is being continued in partnership with the European university alliance ChallengeEU. As a founding member, Hochschule Offenburg brings regional issues into an international network—and enables local ideas to have an impact even across borders.
This creates a growing innovation network in which regional initiatives resonate across Europe and international experiences feed back into the region.
Interested in investing or collaborating?
We would be happy to provide you with information about the format and opportunities for participation.
Contact:
Ilona Maier
, Dipl.-Ing., Hochschule Offenburg
Ilona.maier@hs-offenburg.de
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