Host a Tech Challenge
Tech Talent Program
Internal R&D is always stretched. Hiring takes too long. Good engineers are hard to evaluate before you commit. Hosting a Tech Challenge gives SMEs and scale-ups a faster, leaner path to technical progress and a direct look at your next hire.
Your toughest engineering problem. Our best students. 12 weeks.
Your return on investment
24 hours of your feedback unlocks 780 hours of engineering work from five students, plus 24 hours of senior coaching and project management. You act purely as Product Owner. We handle the rest.
Engineering Hours
Delivered over 12 weeks
Hours From You
Total time investment over 12 weeks
Slots only
Batch #9, September 2026
Previous Challenge Hosts
What is a Tech Challenge?
A real technical problem or innovation goal your internal team hasn't yet had the time or capacity to pursue. You define the problem, the deliverables, and the success criteria. We handle everything else.
All results, prototypes, and code remain your property.
The Concept
Determine the Scope
Identify a focused technical challenge or innovation goal your team has not yet had the capacity to tackle.
Set Up the Challenge
In an expert-led Design Thinking workshop, we define the challenge scope, objectives, and success criteria together.
Identify the Technical Focus
You specify the core skills required: AI and machine learning, IoT, mechanical engineering, electronics, or industrial design.
Contribute Key Input
You provide datasets, hardware components, or system access needed for the challenge to run.
Define the Deliverables
You determine the tangible outcome: a prototype, a validated architecture, a test system, or a user-experience concept.
Own the Outcome
All results, prototypes, and code remain with you, strengthening your proprietary assets.
What you get
Benefits
R&D Output
Tangible technical progress on a real challenge: prototype, validation, or architecture, feeding directly into your product development.
Talent Pipeline
Evaluate five pre-screened STEM candidates in a real-world, high-pressure environment. No headhunter fees. No blind hires.
Lab Infrastructure
Your challenge team works 24/7 in MotionLab.Berlin's labs: 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and electronics labs. No procurement, no setup.
Ecosystem Access
Network with other SMEs, corporates, research institutes, and the wider MotionLab.Berlin community at Graduation Day and beyond.
Infratec – Case Study
Upgrading legacy hardware with AI — in 12 weeks.
Proven by results
The Challenge
InfraTec's thermal imaging fire detection systems work. The problem was false alarms – triggered by sun reflections, braking, and hot exhausts. They needed an automated intelligence layer to separate real threats from harmless heat sources, without tying up internal engineering capacity.
The Solution
A 5-student team developed a dual-method proof of concept: object detection to exclude known visual nuisances, and sequential anomaly detection using on-site infrared data to catch edge cases. Both methods tested and validated within 12 weeks.
The Result
Functional proof of concept delivered in 12 weeks.
Two AI methodologies validated, including a new approach to IR anomaly detection.
Findings presented directly to InfraTec's R&D team with clear implementation next steps. Internal engineering capacity protected throughout.
“We had the ideas, but lacked the resources to test which AI approach would work in the field. The student team changed that – and through the MotionLab.Berlin network, connected us directly with the hardware providers needed for implementation. That saved us months of R&D budget.”
Jens Kraushaar, Director Thermographie Automation at Infratec
How it works
01
Define the scope. We source and pre-screen top STEM students from 20+ universities. You make the final call.
02
Your team builds in our labs – guided by a matched tech coach and project manager. Mid-point review at week six.
03
Students present on Graduation Day. Meet the talent pool, other corporates & SMEs. Hire or continue from there.
Be a Host
Host a Tech Challenge
Only 5 challenge slots for September 2026.
Where our students are from
Batch #9 Timeline
Only 5 challenge slots available for September 2026.
Program Schedule
31 May 2026
Register your interest to take part in the program.
June 2026
Your Challenge is developed and finalised together with our team.
July – August 2026
Students apply and are selected for your challenge.
September 2026
The program starts. Your challenge team begins work.
November 2026
Graduation Day. Results presented. The talent pool opens.
FAQ
Your Questions
Who can host a Tech Challenge?
What kind of challenges are suitable?
How much time does it require from our side?
What does it cost?
Who owns the results?
Can we hire the students after the program?
What if the challenge changes mid-program?
How are students selected for our challenge?
You are a Student?
The Tech Talent Program is free and open to bachelor's and master's students in Berlin, Brandenburg, and Dresden.
Student ProgramMotionLab.Berlin is Germany’s premier Innovation Hub & Makerspace – an ecosystem for Hardtech, art, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
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