Ambassador Applaud Student Contributions as Innovation Camp Concludes

37 students from Denmark and China presented a total of 6 projects as their suggestion for the future development of B&O products. This was the first ever B&O Innovation Camp in China, and the aim was to explore ideas for future consumer electronics that could pave the way for the company’s growth in China.

Students have been working cross nationalities to inspire and learn from each other in order to develop the best concepts. Photo: Rasmus Daniel Taun.

The projects were applauded by the jury and especially the Danish Ambassador to China, Friis Arne Petersen, was thrilled to see cross cultural collaboration between Danish industry and Danish/Chinese universities.

“What makes this programme so interesting is the dynamic that arises when bringing together Danish and Chinese educational traditions and experiences. Not only does it create new ideas and insights for B&O, but the camp also generates cross cultural learning and strengthen the universities abilities to teach the top students in new and creative ways,” said Friis Arne Petersen at the closing ceremony at Jiaotong University.

The projects presented impressed the ambassador, who praised both the students for their energy and inspirational efforts, but also the Danish company B&O for incorporating an innovative strategy to understand China and the consumers here.

                               
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The students came from both Aarhus University School of Engineering, Aalborg University, Struer Gymnasium and Jiaotong University giving way for mixed approaches and ideas to develop.

Bang & Olufsen representatives have been in Shanghai for the whole Innovation Camp, and they have been overwhelmed to see such great collaboration and outcome of hosting an Innovation Camp in Shanghai.

“B&O is not only a tech brand but a cultural brand, and the camp proved that cultural focused innovation can be key to enter china and this focus could be key to re-establishing B&O not just in China, but globally as shown by the concepts that had Western appeal.” Lyle Clark, Concept Manager at B&O says.

Representing the students in the final presentations, Anders Lindberg from Aalborg University says the group has gained a lot of new ideas and perspectives from working together; “We have learned much from the cultural differences, and discovered, that even though you share values and humor, I think you really need to be in China to understand China.”  

Jørgen Daucke, Concept manager at B&O share a similar positive view, and says: “We learned that Chinese people are very friendly and playful, having strong family bonds, and these values fits perfectly with the B&O brand. We are certainly looking forward to do more cultural innovation in China.”

B&O have previously incorporated ideas from Innovation Camps in Denmark into their products, but it is still too early to say, what will happen to the concepts developed in Shanghai.

About the Camp

The Innovation camp was arranged by Bang & Olufsen in cooperation with Aarhus University School of Engineering, Aalborg University, Struer Statsgymnasium and Innovation Centre Denmark, Shanghai as local partner. Participants come from Aarhus University, Aalborg University, Struer Statsgymnasium and Jiaotong University.