Bio Inspired Innovation

Bio Inspired Innovation teaches students to apply a nature-inclusive perspective to sustainability challenges by leveraging their background in biology. The programme is designed for students with a Bachelor’s degree in the biological sciences who want to translate their knowledge into the field of environmental sustainability. You will combine a systems-thinking approach with research, design, and collaboration skills to create and evaluate bio-inspired solutions and their impact on the climate crisis.

Year 1

You will start your journey with the Introduction week of Life Sciences Academy (1.5 EC). The first year of the programme is research-oriented and provides a solid foundation for the second year. Get in dept knowledge on sustainability and systems thinking and LCA's by following our compulsory course (7.5 EC). Most students chose our Bio Insprired as elective at the same time (Bio Inspired Design challenge). Most students will start with the Major Research Project (42-51 EC) within one of the research groups of the graduate school of life sciences. You can also choose other Elective Components (a total of 15 EC).

Compulsory components

Year 2

The second year has its emphasis on the application of acquired skills to drive innovation. You will complete your Major Research Project (42-51 EC), in which you gained extensive research experience. Moreover, you will follow our compulsory course (7.5 EC) that provides you with knowledge to design (parts of) a system using bio inspired design methods & techniques. Additionally, you will follow one of the Profiles (30 EC) to broaden your expertise and explore new areas of interest. Conclude your programme with a Writing Assignment (7.5 EC) that hones your scientific writing and critical analysis skills.

Compulsory components 

Connection to research

Bio Inspired Innovation is part of The Institute of Environmental Biology within the Faculty of Science, connecting students to diverse research groups such as Microbiology, Plant-Microbe Interactions, and Ecology and Biodiversity. This broad network allows students to tackle fundamental challenges in sustainability.

Beyond academia, BINN collaborates with NGOs, start-ups, companies, and government bodies—offering opportunities to engage in real-world projects in areas like permaculture, sustainability consulting, and climate action.