Gender-Responsive Research and Innovation Lab in STEM (Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme)

The Gender-Responsive Research and Innovation Lab in STEM is a hands-on, interdisciplinary training initiative that combines technical and societal perspectives to address real-world challenges. Led by Politecnico di Milano and developed in collaboration with TU Berlin, RWTH Aachen, TU Delft and NTNU, the programme explores how gender, diversity, and intersectionality influence the design, adoption, and governance of emerging technologies, with a focus on mobility, AI, and sustainability,

Students attending the Lab will be able to:

• Understand and apply the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) framework in STEM contexts;
• Integrate gender and diversity dimensions into research and design processes;
• Develop ethically grounded and socially responsive innovation strategies;
• Collaborate effectively across cultural and disciplinary boundaries;
• Critically reflect on the societal impact of science and technology.

Participants must be enrolled in a Master's degree programme in a STEM discipline and should have an interest in inclusive innovation.

As a blended learning format, the Lab combines online preparation with an immersive on-site experience in Milan:

1. Pre-Lab online phase: Students are asked to complete the ENHANCE MOOC "Responsible Innovators of Tomorrow" alongside participating in 2 online seminars introducing Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and Diversity Aware Design methodologies. 
2. 5-days Summer School in Milan: the on-site phase is devoted to peer-learning activities and project development. It also encompasses input from experts, including visiting professors from TU Berlin, RWTH Aachen, TU Delft and NTNU.

The successful completion of the online preparatory phase (MOOC + seminars) is foundational. It ensures all participants share a common methodological baseline and enables early group formation, which is essential for maximizing productivity during the intensive project development in Milan.

The two-level mutual trust-based quality assurance scheme has been adopted:

• at the university level: Politecnico di Milano has applied its internal quality assurance procedures and structures to the proposal of Gender-Responsive Research and Innovation Lab in STEM it submitted to ENHANCE and to its implementation - the related learning activities,
• at the Alliance level: the body composed of Education Officers has made decisions regarding the inclusion of Gender-Responsive Research and Innovation Lab in STEM proposed by Politecnico di Milano to the Innovative Learning Campus part of the joint ENHANCE educational offer, based on the compliance with the formal requirements and ENHANCE goals.

• MOOC "Responsible Innovators of Tomorrow": asynchronous;
• Online Seminar 1: May 11th, 2026 5-7 PM;
• Online Seminar 2: June 8th, 2026 5-7 PM;
• 5-days Summer School at Politecnico di Milano: September 7th-11th, 2026.

Students' commitment will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Project Proposal: Students are required to develop a research or innovation proposal that incorporates the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) framework and integrates gender and diversity dimensions into the design process;
• Ethical and Societal Relevance: The proposal must reflect the development of ethically grounded and socially responsive innovation strategies and provide a critical reflection on the societal impact of science and technology;
• Collaborative Process: Assessment includes the evaluation of the group's ability to collaborate effectively across cultural and disciplinary boundaries during the intensive project work phase;
• Presentation: The final presentation to the faculty evaluates the clarity and structure of the proposal, alongside the students' ability to effectively communicate their methodological choices and project outcomes.

Applications will be submitted via MC Forms.

In order to finalize their application, students must send all the three document listed below to erasmus-bip@polimi.it. All the three documents must be in English and in pdf format. Please, remeber to add your surname in the subject line, e.g.,"[Surname]_Gender Lab application doc"

• CV (max. 1 page);
• Motivation Letter (max. 1 page);
• Official academic transcript including all exams and grades obtained during their Master's degree programme.