Hot days, cool designs at Free University of Bolzano! This edition of International Summer School on “Axiomatic Design and Systems Engineering for Sustainable System Design” brought together 46 participants, including 16 lecturers, from 5 countries for an inspiring week of learning, collaboration, and innovation in Bolzano, Italy. Organized in collaboration between the Erasmus+ SUSEE (Smaller Universities for Sustainability in Engineering Education) project and the International Association of Axiomatic Design (IAAD), the event was hosted at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano and co-funded by the European Union.
Participants explored cutting-edge methods in Axiomatic Design and Systems Engineering through lectures, lab visits, and real-world case studies provided by industry partners like Alpitronic, TechnoAlpin, and Gresmalt.
This time the SUSEE project really went global! The Summer School offered lectures and workshops delivered by expert lecturers from international academics including Prof. Chris Brown (Worcester Polytechnic Institute, USA), Prof. David Cochran (Purdue University, USA), Prof. Joseph Foley (Reykjavik University, Iceland) and Prof. Joāo Fradinho (NOVA Lisbon, Portugal). Thanks to online participation of some guest students from University of Ibagué (Colombia) the SUSEE project was also promoted across oceans.
Day 1 – Arrival and Opening Reception
The Summer School commenced with a warm welcome and registration of participants at the Free University of Bolzano’s main building rooftop room. The rector, Alex Weissensteiner, opened the welcome session and greeted the attendees. Thereafter, Prof. Erwin Rauch gave the main overview of the week, introduced the groups and the challenges to be solved by the students in the coming days. The opening was complemented by an aperitivo and informal discussions, setting a tone of openness, curiosity, and intercultural understanding.
Day 2 – Company Visits, Lab Tours, and Foundations of Axiomatic Design
Day two began with hands-on learning: split into groups, participants visited local companies Alpitronic and TechnoAlpin, both leaders in innovative technologies. Guided tours deepened understanding of real engineering challenges—such as the assembly of electric charging stations and the design of efficient snowmaking systems.
Returning to the Faculty of Engineering at NOI Techpark, the morning continued with a lab visit for exploring platforms in robotics, tractor safety, and fluid dynamics. The afternoon transitioned to theoretical foundations. Prof. Chris Brown (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) delivered an engaging lecture introducing Axiomatic Design – a methodology first developed by Prof. Nam P. Suh at MIT, centered on maximizing the independence of functional requirements and minimizing complexity. Prof. David Cochran provided a systems engineering lifecycle perspective, followed by Prof. Erwin Rauch’s introduction to the main steps in group work. Participants gathered into teams for their first groupwork session, where they started to tackle real-world challenges provided by the industry partners.
Day 3 – Advanced Topics, Groupwork, and Social Excursions
Wednesday was dedicated to deepening technical expertise and advancing collaborative design work. The morning featured intensive groupwork sessions: teams progressed through problem decomposition, using the Axiomatic Design methodology to break down functional requirements, assign physical solutions, and clarify system boundaries. A lab visit in the Smart Mini Factory introduced the solutions in human-centered robotics and digital twin. Following the visits to the Material Characterization Lab and Prototyping Lab, showcasing Industry 4.0 applications and hands-on experimentation. Afternoon lectures included Prof. Husung’s session on Model-Based Systems Engineering and Prof. João Fradinho’s discussion of Independence Metrics, expanding the analytical toolkit available for sustainable system design. Tutors provided direct feedback during group check-ups, helping teams refine their concepts.
The day’s work was balanced by a social excursion to Lake Caldaro—a highlight for many participants. The beautiful setting provided a chance to relax, reflect, and connect with colleagues in an informal context. The evening concluded with a social dinner at Schlosskellerei Turmhof Tiefenbrunner, fostering not only team spirit but also cross-cultural friendships.
Day 4 – Groupwork, Presentations, and Awards
Thursday was the culmination of each team’s efforts. The morning saw teams engaged in the final stages of groupwork: refining decompositions, critically evaluating solutions and preparing presentations. In the afternoon, Prof. Joe Foley delivered an accessible, engaging lecture on the application of Axiomatic Design in everyday items, reminding participants of the methodology’s practical relevance. Teams then presented their projects to peers and the evaluation committee, showcasing creativity, analytical rigor, and a deep understanding of sustainable system design. The presentations were followed by an awards ceremony and innovative solutions, and a convivial aperitivo that allowed for informal celebration and networking.
Day 5 – Reflection and Wrap-Up
Friday was dedicated to individual reflection, feedback, and the conclusion of the Summer School. Participants completed an online survey, contributing suggestions for future editions.
This Summer School was also aligned with the broader vision of the European University Alliance SUNRISE, where SUSEE partners are actively contributing to shaping the future of sustainable engineering education in Europe.
