- DKU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative

Arts • Tech • Entrepreneurship • Community • Sustainability • Social Impact

April 10-15, 2026 • Duke Kunshan University

As DKU continues to advance its efforts in innovation and entrepreneurship, social innovation, and hands-on laboratory practice, the university has developed a diversified innovation ecosystem. This ecosystem encompasses the DKU Innovation Incubator (Dii), the Co-Innovate Platform, and a range of Lab/Maker-based experimental projects.

Innovation Week is designed to bring together DKU’s existing innovation resources and showcase, over the course of one week, the complete innovation journey of DKU students—from idea generation and project development to real-world implementation. The event aims to enhance the visibility, impact, and cross-campus synergy of student-driven innovation initiatives.

April 10, 2026

Mini Maker Faire

A buzzing, marketplace-style showcase of student creativity is coming! This is a playground of bold, experimental builds—where ideas turn into interactive experiences you can see, touch, and play with.

Explore works from Makers On-Site Sessions 1–3—from AI chatbots and kinetic art installations to intelligent mobility builds—all in one space.

Wander through booths, try out interactive demos, chat with creators, and experience ideas up close. Every team brings something unique—come test, play, and be surprised.

See what’s been built. Share your thoughts. Catch the vibe. 🚀

Vibe Pop-up Party Night

Step into an immersive audio-visual playground co-created by humans and intelligent systems. Through live coding agents, music is generated in real time, while AI-powered VJ systems transform the space with evolving visuals.

You’re not just watching—you’re part of the vibe. Drop your own prompts, remix the sound, and shape the visuals as the night unfolds.

During the Vibe Live Jam, you can take control: generate music, manipulate visuals, and even connect with Open Claw for a fully interactive experience.

No coding experience needed—just curiosity and creativity.

Come play, create, and lose yourself in the vibe.

April 11, 2026

Co-Innovate Field Study to SixArts Museum

This field study offers an immersive exploration of traditional Chinese material culture at the SixArts Museum. Through guided observation and discussion, students will gain insights into folk artifacts, craftsmanship, and design, connecting academic learning with tangible cultural heritage.

DKU 48-Hour Hackathon: Innovation for Wellbeing

ED Healer and DKU co-host “Innovation for Wellbeing” Youth Mental Health Hackathon, focusing on mental health issues among young people aged 18-25. This hackathon invites interdisciplinary youth teams to develop functional technology prototypes within 48 hours, driving deep integration of youth participation, technological innovation, and social impact.

April 12, 2026

Co-Innovate Showcase, Panels, Gatherings

By joining this Co-Innovate Showcase event, you will gain firsthand insights into how students transform innovative ideas into real-world social impact. This event offers a unique opportunity to learn from outstanding Spring and Fall 2025 project teams, explore diverse approaches to sustainability and community engagement, and connect with partners and collaborators across sectors.

You will also hear cross-campus perspectives from UNNC project leaders, celebrate the completion of Co-Innovate projects through a certificate presentation, and discover new pathways to participate in or initiate your own impact-driven projects within the Co-Innovate ecosystem.

Co-Innovate Panel 1<Into the Real World: Creating Social Impact on the Ground>

This panel brings together experts and practitioners working across key areas of social impact, including youth development, labor rights and migrant worker support, long-term community volunteering, local nonprofit leadership, and grassroots health and education initiatives.

Guided by a facilitator with expertise in political economy, the discussion explores how frontline organizations navigate complex social challenges, mobilize diverse communities, and sustain meaningful change in real-world settings. Participants will gain grounded insights into the everyday realities of social innovation, how ideas are transformed into action, how communities build resilience, and how impact is created and measured on the ground.

Co-Innovate Panel 2<Sustainability Dialogues:
Bridging Ideas, People, and Practice>

This panel brings together practitioners and educators from diverse fields of sustainability, including youth leadership development, community innovation, experiential education, and student-driven sustainability initiatives.

Guided by a facilitator experienced in social innovation and collaborative learning, the dialogue explores how ideas about sustainability are translated into actionable projects, how communities engage in long-term sustainable practices, and how young people can become catalysts for meaningful change. Participants will gain insights into cross-sector collaboration, innovative models of sustainability education, and the ways in which people, ideas, and practice intersect to build a more resilient future.

DKU 48-Hour Hackathon: Innovation for Wellbeing

April 13, 2026

InE Info Session

Discover the support ecosystem for innovators at DKU and learn how the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative (InE) helps turn ideas into meaningful impact. This session offers a clear, accessible overview of the resources and infrastructure available to students and innovators at every stage—whether you are just exploring an idea or actively building a venture.

Participants will be introduced to InE’s key programs, including skill-building workshops, experiential learning opportunities, funding and grant options, and a strong mentorship network of faculty, industry experts, and entrepreneurs.

You’ll gain insight into how these offerings connect to support ideation, prototyping, validation, and growth, while fostering a collaborative and practical entrepreneurial mindset. Join us to understand where to start, what support is available, and how to leverage InE’s ecosystem to move confidently from idea to impact.

Wood Alchemy: AI x Laser Cutting Workshop

Design it. Cut it. Build it.

Turn your ideas into real, tangible objects in a fully hands-on creative experience. Using AI-powered tools, you’ll generate and refine your own designs—whether it’s a custom keychain, a unique lamp, or another original creation. Learn how to transform inspiration into clear design concepts that are ready to be made, blending creativity with emerging technology.

You’ll bring those designs into the physical world by converting them into laser-cut wooden pieces and putting them together yourself. From preparing files to assembling the final object, you’ll be involved in every step of the process. No prior experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment. By the end, you’ll walk away with a finished piece and a deeper understanding of how AI, digital fabrication, and hands-on making come together to turn ideas into reality.

Dii Documentory Screening：Crafted Legacy

Join us for a documentary screening featuring Vietnam’s traditional crafts—cultural legacies at risk of extinction due to economic pressures, inadequate policy protection, and generational gaps.

We present five short documentaries on endangered crafts from Hue, Hanoi, and Quang Nam, capturing artisans’ stories, dedication, and creative processes.

Immerse yourself in these crafts, listen to artisans’ voices, and join us to preserve Vietnam’s cultural heritage for future generations.

April 14, 2026

Co-Innovate Workshop: Lego Serious Play & Social Innovation Exploration

Join us for an immersive, hands-on Co-Innovate Workshop powered by LEGO® Serious Play®, a globally recognized, research-backed creativity and facilitation method that transforms how people think, communicate, and collaborate.

This dynamic experience is designed to unlock imagination, surface untapped insights, and enable participants to explore complex ideas through building, storytelling, and shared reflection.

Lab open house: Play & Create

Come explore InLab at our Open House!

Here are several hands-on stations where you can play, create, and experiment with cutting-edge tech:

AR/VR Interactive Games
Laser Cutting Fun – make your own name tag or keychain
3D Printing Quick Tests – see your ideas come to life in minutes

Come explore, create, and have fun with tech!

Dii Green Mission Board Game Workshop

The Dii Green Mission Board Game Workshop invites participants to explore sustainability through an interactive and game-based experience.

Through a specially designed board game, participants will engage with real-world environmental challenges, make strategic decisions, and collaborate with peers in a dynamic setting.

April 15, 2026

Dii Startup Faire

The Startup Fair will be structured as an interactive marketplace-style showcase, where Dii teams will:

Set up a booth to present your project
Demonstrate your product, prototype, or concept
Engage visitors through structured interaction or user testing tasks
Collect feedback, validate assumptions, and expand visibility on campus

Co-Innovate Silent Dance Workshop

This unique workshop, co-organized by InE and partners, utilizes dance as a shared language to foster inclusion. Through experiential activities like vibration-based music perception and collaborative movement creation, participants engage in non-verbal dialogue, challenge stereotypes, and contribute to a more inclusive community.

DIGITAL BODIES: 3D Scanning x 3D Printing Beginner Workshop

Beginner-Friendly! Turn Your Likeness Into a Unique 3D Keepsake ✨

Hands-on fun: 3D scan your own image, refine with Meshmixer, and print it to take home.

All equipment provided — no skills required. Create your one-of-a-kind 3D self!

Innovation Week Schedule

Mini Maker Faire

Vibe Pop-up Party Night

Co-Innovate Field Study to SixArts Museum

DKU 48-Hour Hackathon: Innovation for Wellbeing

Co-Innovate Showcase, Panels, Gatherings

Co-Innovate Panel 1<Into the Real World: Creating Social Impact on the Ground>

Co-Innovate Panel 2<Sustainability Dialogues:Bridging Ideas, People, and Practice>

DKU 48-Hour Hackathon: Innovation for Wellbeing

InE Info Session

Wood Alchemy: AI x Laser Cutting Workshop

Dii Documentory Screening：Crafted Legacy

Co-Innovate Workshop: Lego Serious Play & Social Innovation Exploration

Lab open house: Play & Create

Dii Green Mission Board Game Workshop

Dii Startup Faire

Co-Innovate Silent Dance Workshop

DIGITAL BODIES: 3D Scanning x 3D Printing Beginner Workshop

Co-Innovate Panel 2<Sustainability Dialogues:
Bridging Ideas, People, and Practice>