This Summer School aims to train participants to master the ongoing development in the real estate sector brought about by PropTech (Property Technology).

In a hackathon-like setting, the participants will develop digital business proposals to address the most pressing challenges in the housing market, utilizing design thinking and a creative problem-solving approach.

Given the recent socio-economic and environmental challenges, the School will explore how digital technologies enable novel and original ways to create more sustainable and inclusive housing and living practices.

TRAINING MODE AND FOCUS

Digital technologies are innovating the real estate and construction sectors. Innovation in real estate is driving greater efficiency, transparency, and sustainability in the sectors’ operations, while also creating new opportunities for investments. The disruptive transformation of this sector encompasses the application of the available technologies in novel and original ways to produce new insights and promote more effective and efficient practices.

This Summer School will cover a range of topics to depict the ongoing development brought to the sector by PropTech (Property Technology) solutions.

After an overview of the role of innovation in the real estate and construction sector, participants will be invited to elaborate on an innovative application addressing one or more specific issues of the sector. Participants, divided into groups, will analyze the context, identify the issue to cover and elaborate on a strategy for technology development.

• Guided by experienced academic researchers and industry experts, participants will become familiar with state-of-the-art technology and the current challenges in the residential context.
• Case studies and guest lectures will complement the theoretical contents.
• Knowledge of best practice projects already available in the market will be provided.

The participants will use design thinking and a creative problem-solving approach to elaborate their digital business proposals.

Eventually, the groups will pitch their innovative solutions in front of a commission composed of selected professionals, and the “best solution” (based on marketability criteria) will be awarded a prize.

TAKEAWAYS

This course will assist students in engaging with the ongoing evolution of technology in the real estate and construction sectors.

Participants will learn to:

• Integrate different disciplines in sound reasoning around technological innovation: interpret the evolution of the sector, perform market analysis, and identify interesting use cases;
• Understand market needs (demand) and select the most appropriate technologies for answering them (supply);
• Manage the development of innovative business ideas based on digital applications; anticipate both short-term and long-term impacts of technology adoption.

The participants of the Summer School will receive a comprehensive overview of the current PropTech phenomenon at an international level and apply this knowledge to propose innovative solutions suitable for addressing one of the most pressing challenges in real estate: sustainable and inclusive housing.

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