Nova SBE Digital Experience Lab and Nova SBE Entrepreneurship Hub recently created a technology solutions project named PULSE. The first edition closed on May 5 and gave three awards to innovative campus-life solutions.

Nova School of Business & Economics (Nova SBE) launched PULSE with the help of companies like Schréder-Hyperion, Sonae, Outsystems, and Bright Pixel [+ Taikai]. PULSE consisted of a student challenge; young minds were asked to imagine and to design new on-campus solutions using technology.

The project consisted of three stages – ideation, development, and demonstration – and took place from January (beginning of the first stage) to April and May (demonstration stage). Several activities were undertaken during this competition to develop participants' skills, and professional development and awards were given to reward their innovative ideas according to needs and preferences.

Five teams made it to the final stage: Nova Study, Dim Room for Bright Minds, Nova Library App, Nova Maps, and Nova Canteen App. These ideas were mainly connected to well-being and life at Nova SBE and improving and maintaining study spaces.

The first prize winner of 2000€ was the Nova Study Project, an app to facilitate students' lives during exam season by helping them to locate free study spaces in the library. The second and third places, which amount to 1000€ and 500€ respectively, were awarded to Nova Canteen App and Nova Maps that, as their names indicate, consist of helping students pre-order and pre-pay their meals and find their way around campus.

This was the first edition of this PULSE challenge, which aims to foster the students' professional success through a growing area at Nova SBE.