Bio Inspired Innovation

Bio inspired design and science are used for innovations that support a transition to a sustainable, circular economy. The Master’s program in Bio Inspired Innovation at Utrecht University offers a unique blend of knowledge and skill training that will support the search for and development of circular business-models and bio inspired research & innovations.

We live in a society that places great trust in technology and science to solve our problems and fulfill our needs. However, science and technology alone cannot provide us with a society that nourishes rather than destroys its surroundings. We need to switch to a more circular society.

Key facts

• We will introduce you to the grand challenges that need to be tackled to become a circular society and to the Life’s Principles that are of use in the scoping and evaluation design phases of a biomimicry design cycle.
• Bio Inspired Innovation (BII) is aimed at students with a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, who are interested in research and want to innovate services, products, production systems and design based on principles that have evolved in nature. You will be theprofessionalthat contributes to the transition to a circular economy with Bio Inspired Innovations.
• Innovation, Research And Design
• The Master’s program in Bio Inspired Innovation at Utrecht University equips you with research, design and collaborative skills that will make you a bio inspired expert. BII builds on the excellent research at the Faculty of Science and links research findings to solve societal and business challenges.The first year is research based, while the second year focuses on the use of research knowledge in innovation.
• Career Prospects
• This Master’s program prepares you to become a highly qualified professional, who is able to function in an academic, business or other organisational environment. You will be a change-agent and resource professional for organistations that aim to be part ofa sustainable society with guaranteed food supply.
• We actively support your efforts to become a bio inspired circular economy expert, innovator entrepreneur, scientist or consultant.
• Why in Utrecht

• Follow a unique program, combining science and inspiration from nature with design and innovation to come up with sustainable processes and to ensure future food supply.
• Freedom to design your own program, by choosing the track, research project and electives that best fit your interests. You also select one out of 9 thematic profiles which are designed to equip you with skills for your future career in a direction that appeals you most.
• This Master's is part of the Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS). The GSLS brings together the research expertise and facilities of the faculties of Science, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, in cooperation with UMC Utrecht - offering you an interdisciplinary approach.

Accredited by the NVAO - Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.

Courses include:

• Navigation towards personal excellence (competence/personality development)

• Theory and Philosophy

• Footprinting

• Participation in Biomimicry design Challenge Part 2, the units are:

• Life cycle analysis

• Business Canvas modelling