Mission: Hilf Oma!
An innovation format for social impact in the context of ageing and care
„Mission: Hilf Oma!“ is an interdisciplinary innovation format that empowers students to rethink social challenges relating to care, ageing and quality of life in old age – and to tackle them in concrete terms.
At its heart is an urgent question:
How can we sustainably improve the reality of life for seniors in need of care?
Demographic change, a shortage of skilled workers, social isolation and structural overload in the care system present our society with complex challenges. At the same time, there is often a lack of user-centred solutions that truly address the needs of older people.
„Mission: Hilf Oma!“ creates a structured space for innovation in this area. The format combines scientific reflection, systemic thinking, practical relevance and target group interaction. In exchange with partners from the field, students develop new perspectives, solutions and prototypes – with real impact potential.
Mission: Help Grandma! is the further development of the successful format „Mission: Inklusion“. The predecessor format has shown how effective interdisciplinary innovation processes can be at the interface between universities and society. You can find an insight here.
„Mission: Inklusion“ has given rise to concrete social entrepreneurial ideas, such as the inclusive team event format of RSV Bayreuth.
With „Mission: Hilf Oma!“, this proven innovation concept is now being specifically applied to the socially highly relevant field of ageing and care.
Aim of the format
The aim of Mission: Hilf Oma! is to
- train students to become socially effective designers,
- develop innovative solutions in the field of ageing and care,
- strengthen dialogue between universities and practitioners,
- and place real needs at the centre of innovation processes.
This is not about theory, but about real challenges – tackled together with people from the care sector, organisations and the social sector.
Structure & Events
- Situation assessmentHide
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The situation briefing marks the strategic start of the mission. Here, the social problem area is jointly classified and defined.
The participants develop a common understanding of the problem, identify relevant actors and initial systemic connections. The aim is to highlight the complexity of the reality of life for seniors in need of care and to create a solid basis for further work.
12 February 2026 | 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Open Innovation Lab | Nürnbergerstr. 38 House 1, Zapf Building
- Base camp for studentsHide
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At Basecamp, students acquire the methodological and content-related tools they need for their mission.
Here, they learn and test innovation methods such as design thinking, system mapping and user-centred idea development. At the same time, the teams refine their questions, define search areas and develop initial solutions.
Basecamp is a learning space, a thinking space and a strategic workspace all in one – the place where questions give rise to initial ideas.
Starting on 13 April 2026 in the summer semester | 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Open Innovation Lab | Nürnbergerstr. 38 House 1, Zapf Building
- ExpeditionHide
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Now it's time to get out into the field. The expedition takes the students from the seminar room into the real world.
Through direct interaction with senior citizens, they gain qualitative insights into their needs, challenges and everyday realities. This phase is crucial: it ensures that ideas are based on real experiences rather than assumptions. Empathy, observation and listening are the focus here.
7 May 2026 | 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Open Innovation Lab | Nürnbergerstr. 38 House 1, Zapf Building
The expedition is being held in cooperation with the BRK Kreisverband Bayreuth. If you are interested in participating, please contact Tina Beeg (tina.beeg@uni-bayreuth.de).
- Practice briefingHide
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In the Practice briefing, students meet partners from care facilities, organisations, start-ups and specialist contexts. They contribute their perspectives, share experiences and reflect on the approaches developed by the teams. What is realistic? Where are the structural hurdles? Where is there real potential?
This phase ensures that innovation does not arise in a vacuum, but remains connectable – to real structures and actual needs.
21 May 2026 | 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., followed by networking until 5:00 p.m. | Open Innovation Lab | Nürnbergerstr. 38 House 1, Zapf Building
- ShowdownHide
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The showdown marks the conclusion and highlight of the mission.
The teams present their developed concepts, prototypes or solutions to an expert audience from academia and industry. In addition to visibility, the focus here is primarily on transfer and starting points for actual implementation: What has been learned? Where is the potential for innovation? How can we move forward?
The showdown makes the impact visible – and opens up perspectives for follow-up projects.
16 July 2026 | 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Open Innovation Lab | Nürnbergerstr. 38 House 1, Zapf Building
Target groups
Students – The Crew
As the crew in „Mission: Hilf Oma!“, students take on the role of impact founders.
They analyse complex social challenges, develop innovative solutions and work in interdisciplinary teams. In doing so, they gain practical experience in innovation methods, project work and target group interaction.
Added value for students:
- Application of innovation methods in a real-world context
- Strengthening of problem-solving and team skills
- Practical experience in the field of social innovation
- Establishment of relevant contacts in nursing and social services
„Mission: Hilf Oma!“ thus offers a protected but realistic space for actively shaping social responsibility.
Practice partners – experts and enablers supporting the crew
Practice partners contribute their experience, perspectives and challenges to the format.
They act as catalysts, sparring partners and sounding boards for the ideas developed. Working with students opens up new perspectives on existing problems – beyond established routines.
Added value for practice partners:
- Access to innovative approaches
- Exchange with committed students
- Reflection on own structures and processes
- Potential impetus for concrete further developments
The format sees itself as a cooperative platform between higher education and practice – with the aim of providing sustainable impetus in the field of ageing and care.
„Mission: Hilf Oma!“ is more than a seminar.
It is a structured innovation process that brings students, practice partners and social challenges into a productive dialogue. Through systemic thinking, genuine encounters and creative solution development, new perspectives on the reality of life for seniors in need of care and a community that stands for social innovation and inspiration are created.
Contacts:
Prof. Dr. Eva Alexandra Jakob
Junior Professor for Social Entrepreneurship
Project management
E-Mail: eva.jakob@uni-bayreuth.de
Tina Beeg
Research assistant
Haus 1, Zapf-Gebäude
Nürnberger Str. 38
95448 Bayreuth
E-Mail: Tina.Beeg@uni-bayreuth.de
The programme „Mission: Hilf Oma!“ 2026 will be carried out as part of the ‘RIA - Regional Innovation Architecture’ project (situation assessment, expedition, practice briefing, showdown) and U4Impact (base camp for students).
The "RIA" project is sponsored and implemented by:
The "U4Impact" project is supported by:
