International Summer School 2026

Design, simulate and 3D print your own boat

Passionate about CAD, design and 3D printing? Take part in the 5-day Design Challenge hosted by Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and Fraunhofer IWU.

Deutsch

What's our plan?

From 21 to 25 September 2026, Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, in cooperation with Fraunhofer IWU, will host an international summer school focused on design, simulation, and additive manufacturing in plastics processing.

the challenge

The highlight of the program is an intensive five-day design challenge. Working in interdisciplinary teams, you'll develop your own boat concept—from the first sketch to a fully designed watercraft. Your goal is to create a design that can be produced using large-scale 3D printing while meeting the key requirements of a functional boat, including stability, buoyancy, strength, and smart design.

The winning team's concept will be brought to life on a large-format 3D printer. But everyone benefits from taking part: you'll gain hands-on experience, work on a real engineering challenge, collaborate with students from different disciplines, and build a standout project that will strengthen your CV and future job applications.

(Virtual) Reality 

Using modern virtual reality technology, you will test your designs in an immersive environment: How stable is your boat? Where is its center of gravity? How does it behave in the water? At the same time, you will need to think in terms of manufacturability — because large-format printing follows its own rules.

The special part: theory does not remain just theory here. The best design will be produced using large-format 3D printing and then tested under real conditions at Olbersdorfer See — although the challenge it will have to master will remain a secret until then!

Who can participate?

The Summer School is open to international university students, trainees, and pupils aged 18 and above who have CAD skills and access to their own software.

Participation Requirements

  • Minimum age: 18 years
  • Good to very good CAD skills and access to your own software (more details are provided in the application form)
  • Motivation to work in an international team on a real-world design challenge

What you can expect

  • Personal insights into the research and manufacturing processes at the Plastics Center Oberlausitz of Fraunhofer IWU
  • Inputs and lectures from experts in large-format 3D printing and boat building
  • Five days of independent work in interdisciplinary teams
  • Excursion to the tri-border region of Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland
  • Valuable international connections

Organizational Information

  • The event will be held in both English and German
  • The application phase is now open and will close on 31 July 2026
  • Travel and catering costs must be covered by participants themselves
  • We will support you in finding accommodation

    Do you have any questions? If so, send an email to:
    haakon.hilse(at)hszg.de
    alsu.gimatdinova(at)hszg.de 

Find out more!
(We will keep you regularly updated with the latest information in advance.)

Die International Summerschool 2026 – “Design and simulate 3D-printed boats” ist ein Bestandteil des Forschungsprojektes „Dezentraler Lausitzcampus (Syntral-DLC-HSZG)“ und wird Im Rahmen der BMFTR-Förderlinie „T!Raum – Transferräume für die Zukunft von Regionen" gefördert.

Mehr zum Projekt: Link zu Digitale Lehrmethoden in der Kunststoffverarbeitung