San Sebastian, Spain
The EU4Dual Research & Innovation Challenge Prize 2025 was awarded to Prof. Dr. Marcus Strand from DHBW Karlsruhe, Germany, for his groundbreaking project titled “A Holistic Approach for Dynamic and Ergonomic Adaptation of Robot Movements Using Geometric Algebra.” This award, presented at the EU4Dual Annual Conference, recognizes exceptional research within the field of Dual Higher Education, specifically focusing on the Future of Work.
A Commitment to Transformative Research
As part of the EU4Dual initiative’s commitment to fostering socially impactful research within Dual Higher Education, the 2025 Research & Innovation Challenge Prize sought to recognize high-impact, evidence-based research that contributes to transformative societal change. Launched during the EU4Dual Annual Conference, hosted by ESTIA (France) and Mondragon University (Spain), the competition attracted a wide array of innovative projects aligned with the conference’s key theme: the Future of Work.
Key Highlights of the Challenge
- Submissions: a total of 24 project submissions were received from 11 countries, with notable contributions from Austria, Malta, and Spain.
- Evaluation Process: the submissions underwent a double-blind peer review process, assessed based on six critical dimensions: relevance, transformative potential, innovation and practicality, clarity, social innovation, and overall quality.
- Final Nominees: from the nine highly recommended projects, five were shortlisted for final evaluation. After thorough reviews, these projects competed live at the conference, where Prof. Dr. Marcus Strand’s project emerged as the winner.
Award Results
- Winner: Marcus Strand et al. (Germany) – A Holistic Approach for Dynamic and Ergonomic Adaptation of Robot Movements Using Geometric Algebra
Prize: €1,000 and a commemorative trophy. - Second Place: Dominika Liszkowska (Poland) – Artificial Intelligence and the Issue of Gender Equality in the Polish Labour Market: Intersectionality of Work in the Era of Society 5.0
Prize: Commemorative trophy. - Third Place: Nadja Pirchheim (Austria) – Shaping Futures: Creation of a Virtual Reality Application to Support Young People in Vocational Orientation
Prize: Commemorative trophy.
The Role of Dual Education in Societal Change
The EU4Dual Research & Innovation Challenge Prize successfully highlighted the crucial role that Dual Higher Education plays in addressing complex societal issues through applied research and innovation. Prof. Dr. Strand’s innovative project exemplifies how robotics and human-machine interaction can revolutionize industries while fostering safer, more adaptable technologies for the future of work.
EU4Dual congratulates Prof. Dr. Marcus Strand and all the finalists for their inspiring contributions to research and innovation within the realms of Dual Higher Education and Future of Work.
