EssentialLab

The EssentialLab is a facility where prototypes and technologies can be assembled rapidly and tested. The Lab strives to become a reference for EPFL’s students and researchers for testing hypotheses concerning low-income or humanitarian contexts. The non-academic sector, including companies and NGOs, may benefit from our expertise and knowledge of such contexts through collaborative partnerships. Reverse innovation2, is also a focus of the lab as it is a common question in most of the projects.

Some bullet points of what the EssentialLab offers:

1) Testing facilities to assess robustness with respect to harsh environments (heat, humidity etc.).
2) Fast prototyping equipment (e.g. via 3D printing)
3) A space to brainstorm value chains and business models for entrepreneurial teams, based on tools taught in the MOOC.