Keywords: children, digital technologies, networking

In Framtidsverkstad, high school kids work as digital experts. With the help of a unique design methodology they develop digital concepts for companies based on the company challenge and the digital future. The aim is to strengthen cooperation between young people and companies, a prerequisite for social development.

Companies that work with innovation grow twice as fast, are six times more likely to achieve financial goals and have higher employee engagement. Working with innovation is even more important when companies need to keep up with the digital transformation happening in society. High school students are experts in digital technology: they spend more than 10,000 hours with computers, tablets, computer games and smartphones in their hands. High school students have never experienced a reality that isnt connected. These two groups, companies in need of digitalization and change and high school students, both have knowledge that the other group need and challenges that the other group can solve. Framtidsverkstad brings together companies and high school students to collaborate for three weeks every summer. The students follow a design thinking process to create three concepts for the future based on the companys challenges. By bringing these two groups, we create a unique platform.

Framtidsverkstad is creating a new way for companies and high school students to collaborate. All parties going through the process are learning how to work with design thinking in a problem-solving way and are also learning how to work with innovation processes. Framtidsverkstad leads to innovative concepts during the project and also creates networks with increased knowledge in how to work together to innovate.

Companies get concepts based on the digital future from their future customers and employees, as well as concepts based on their challenges that they legally own and can choose to implement. The companies also get increased knowledge and understanding about the possibilities of digitalization. High school students get work experience and contacts in different companies, increased self-esteem and understanding that their knowledge is needed in companies. Framtidsverkstad also increases young peoples interest in technology as an option for future education. Together, companies and high school kids gain experience in design thinking and innovation processes. Framtidsverkstad is creating a network between project partners, companies and high school students, and its impact in numbers since the project started includes 68 concepts based on the digital future, summer jobs for 108 high school students, and 23 companies with a better understanding of the future.