Turning Workplace Diversity into Reality

While inclusion is widely recognized as the future of the workplace, it often remains a theoretical goal. Despite increasing diversity efforts, the labour market still falls short in integrating people with disabilities. A lack of experience, uncertainty, and structural barriers hinder the full realization of their potential. "Mission: Inclusion" takes a new approach, focusing on interdisciplinary and solution-driven methods. Participants do not need prior expertise in inclusion. Instead, they present real-world challenges, which students then work on to develop concrete, economically viable solutions. Past collaborations have already led to long-term partnerships between companies and organizations.

The fourth edition of "Mission: Inclusion" offers a series of events guiding participants from problem identification to implementation:

• Think Tank (March 28, 2025, 13:00 to 15:00, Open Innovation Lab): Key challenges are identified and discussed.
• Practice Exchange 'Challenge Accepted' (May 9, 2025, 10:00 to 12:00, Open Innovation Lab): In this event, students from various disciplines develop initial solution approaches together with practice partners.
• Go to Market: This semester-long format supports students in developing and testing marketable, social entrepreneurial business models.
• Pitch Finale (July 18, 2025, 13:00 to 17:00, Open Innovation Lab): The developed ideas are presented, and the best are selected for implementation in companies or through new startups with practice partners.

The "Mission: Inclusion" 2025 programme is part of the "RIA - Regional Innovation Architecture" project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Joint Science Conference of the States. Additional support comes from the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and Art through the "U4Impact" initiative, which sponsors accompanying seminars.