Strong emphasis is given to an evidence-based application design, which distinguishes this approach from other innovation projects in learning and teaching.  Such translational research may comprise psychological, physiological, pedagogical, or technological interventions before, after, or during an online or offline course.

External scholars will approach Jacobs University faculty, or vice versa, to draft projects

• within or around the existing curriculum or
• experimentally launch a new offer to complement the existing courses or even modules.

Later on, an international jury will evaluate all applications and nominate projects for implementation. In the course of the competition, the Jacobs Foundation supports selected projects with a total sum of up to 650,000 euros (750,000 Swiss francs). Each project will be accompanied by a rigorous evaluation. Projects should run for a maximum of two years and start in 2019. In line with the international profile of Jacobs University, we explicitly seek innovations and ideas from all over the world to be tested on the Jacobs University campus.