Some parts of this content are currently available in German only.
Symbol Sparks

Our “Sprout!” project funding platform Rethinking sustainability

“Sprout!” is the project funding platform of the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art for projects by students and employees that aim to contribute to a social, sufficient and regenerative society and spark transformation. Its role is not just to hand out prizes; it is a strategic instrument designed to strengthen our culture of sustainability and to boost effective social and cultural transformation within the School and beyond.

Sprout! offers funding for projects that use the means and perspectives of design, film and art to address issues of social relevance, and test workable solutions. The focus is on regenerative practices, circular approaches, sufficient ways of living and production, and initiatives contributing to the greater good. Projects selected for funding tend to be inter- and transdisciplinary, collaborative and innovative endeavours with a clearly defined purpose and a realistic implementation timeline.

more

The platform supports projects chosen from a curated list of entries by a panel of experts with a one-off payment of CHF 1,000, 3,000 or 5,000. The panel will consider projects with a clearly stated goal, social relevance, high methodological quality and long-term effect. Purely commercial projects without a sustainability objective or plausible pathway to implementation will not be considered.  
Simply put, Sprout! offers space, resources and visibility for projects aiming to effect real-life change out of a university context—profoundly, effectively and artistically ambitious.

 

What’s next?

The funding platform has been introduced to the public on various occasions, including the Social Design Conference in Lucerne in September and at MOME, the HSLU’s partner university in Budapest, in November. At both events, valuable feedback was gathered on the platform’s orientation and process. The platform’s recent name change was just one of the adjustments suggested, and that is why the second round comes with a few reforms:

more

In future, the application and assessment process will be two-tiered and—thanks to a new pitching format—more interactive in nature. The aim of this event is to create a meeting and networking opportunity for our applicants. We are also planning to offer more consulting services as part of our funding activities. To this end, we approached the HSLU’s “Smart-up” programme, which provides support to students, former graduates and employees wishing to realise a business idea. They will help us to create a pool of sustainability experts. We are currently in the preparatory stages of the funding platform's second call for proposals in the first quarter of 2026. We can’t wait to see the new entries!