Making ideas visible: The Student EXPO Berlin 2027 at HWR

Brain City Berlin

Many Berlin initiatives, schools and universities work away quietly every day on new ideas, directly in neighbourhoods and community organisations, or in the form of scientific projects and research that rarely make headlines but can make a real difference in people's everyday lives. That is exactly what the Student EXPO Berlin wants to show. On 27 January 2027, the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin) will once again open its doors for the format created by lecturer Felix Wieduwilt: students present Berlin initiatives and projects, making their real-world applications visible – concrete knowledge transfer in Brain City Berlin.

What makes it special: students do not just take care of the content, but organise the entire event themselves as part of the Bachelor's course "Project Management". Anyone wishing to submit an idea, concept or prototype can do so from 1 October to 22 November 2026. The knowledge transfer competition comes with a prize of 3,000 euros, donated by Berlin circular economy pioneer NochMall.

We spoke to Felix Wieduwilt about the Student EXPO and its impact on Brain City Berlin.

The Student EXPO takes students out into the city to explore and highlight Berlin initiatives. How did this format come about, and what is your main goal?

In this great metropolis of Berlin, there are an incredible number of people working every day on wonderful projects and tasks that may not change the world, but matter enormously to many people and have a real impact on everyday life. Rather than reinventing the wheel and celebrating a possible breakthrough, the Student EXPO wants to do the opposite: show what already exists, and create appreciative attention for the small within the large. Many projects deserve to be seen, simply because they work, day after day.

I give students a framework and a rough project brief, but within that framework they are free to make their own decisions and apply their own potential. That is unfamiliar for many, because they are often only expected to function within existing structures and follow instructions. We try instead to empower students to make independent decisions and act accordingly. It is also important to us that we understand not only ecological responsibility, but also social and entrepreneurial responsibility.

At the Student EXPO 2027, students are not only responsible for the content but also for organising the event itself. What do you observe, and what skills do they develop that a conventional course alone cannot provide?

Students get to know themselves and their team, because they will encounter resistance. And in my view, that matters more than any theory. When I know myself, I have a much better sense of what I can do and what I still need to work on. Project management is fundamentally the ability to respond actively to unforeseen, sudden changes so that the project can still succeed. We are operating in the territory of failure, entrepreneurship and communication. That can be challenging, but growth only happens when you have to make as many decisions as possible without knowing whether they are "right". That takes courage and builds a sense of self-efficacy, which is the foundation of self-confidence.

What role does Brain City Berlin play as a city for this format?

Berlin has everything the world has to offer. Few cities radiate as much hope and polarise as strongly as Berlin. Impact projects can achieve a great deal here, because they are needed at every corner and in every district. Visibility and networking are among the most important assets we can activate alongside financial support. When we inform and inspire people, projects can grow and reach others. That creates impact.

From 1 October, students and school pupils from year 11 upwards can apply. Who are you hoping to reach, and what would you say to someone who has an idea but is still unsure?

We want to reach all young people who want to show and share some of their potential. The focus is on projects that genuinely want to make a difference in line with the SDGs: impact will be the benchmark. The idea is allowed to grow throughout the entire process, because we offer workshops to support its development. Anyone who feels the impulse to show something: I encourage them to submit their project between 1 October and 22 November.

Where do you see the Student EXPO in three to five years, and what contribution could it make to Berlin's science and innovation landscape?

I would like the Student EXPO Berlin to become a place where young people can regularly present their ideas and concepts and receive recognition for daring to try, regardless of how "big" the potential innovation is. I can easily imagine each Student EXPO Berlin becoming a temporary exhibition too, finding a space where the concepts can be viewed for a few weeks or months after the event, so they can continue to have an impact beyond EXPO Day itself.

I like to describe myself as a Collaboration Architect, because I am convinced that at a time when more and more tasks are being outsourced to AI models, creative collaboration between research, business and society is becoming ever more important.

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