The SUGAR-network brings together multidisciplinary students from different universities to solve real-world problems through global collaboration. Students work in international teams and receive training in design thinking at Stanford University before tackling challenges presented by corporate partners. The diversity of perspectives and experience with global collaboration prepares students for careers in an increasingly globalized world.

1. Global network of people from a variety
of disciplines taking on complex
real world problems

2. SUGAR-network: is a global network that
brings together multidisciplinary students
from different universities and challenges
them to solve real world product
development challenges.
For the duration of each project, every team
collaborates with another team from a foreign
university. This partnership adds diversity to the
project teams, and students are given the
opportunity to experience true global
collaboration – a skill required in this highly
globalized world. All teams begin their projects at
Stanford University, where they participate in
design thinking workshops and experience the
entrepreneurial culture of Silicon Valley.
SUGAR-network?

5. Students come from different cultures, backgrounds and disciplines.
The diversity assures that teams take multiple perspectives on any given
challenge, increasing the probability of breakthrough discoveries and innovation.
Company/Liason
Teaching Team
LiU
Students
LiU
Students
Partner University
Teaching Team
Partner University
Diversity Drives Innovation

6. During one academic year, the
course teaches students how to
use the IDEO/Stanford design
process in product development,
and is concentrated in
practice-based learning.
The global student teams
prototype, test and iterate in order
to develop and implement
innovative solutions to real world
design challenges posed by
multinational corporate sponsors.
The final proof-of-concept
prototypes are typically featured at
the Stanford/Sugar Design EXPE
each June in California.
Design Thinking

7. Real Problems
Together, student teams tackle
corporate partners' real-world
problems. This provides students
with a great learning opportunity
and corporate partners with
fresh ideas.
Corporate partners provide
funding that is used to bring
teams together at three to four
key points in the nine month
project and enable the
development of prototypes for
experimentation and
proof-of-concept.

8. Sep Oct Oct Jan Apr Jun
Apr Jun
Apr Jun
Fall Quarter Winter Quarter Spring Quarter
Intro Challenge
Projects
Begin
1st Presentation
& Documentation
2nd Presentation
& Documentation
Final Presentation
& Documentation
Jan
15 credits
24 students
1 Project
(possibly 2)
30 credits / 4 students / Food Innovation (possibly)
30 credits / 4 students / SAAB & Stanford
30 credits / 4 students / Tetra pak (possibly)
2017/18 ‘DaMD projects

9. How are lectures aligned
with projects?
We aim to follow Stanford’s process as far
as possible, which means that our teaching
team does a one-day intensive boot camp
as an overview to “design thinking”
accompanied with practical exercises.
During the year as a project develops,
weekly team meetings are held at a fixed
day and time (e.g., Tuesdays 14:00-15:30),
so that students get ongoing feedback
from the teaching team. These small group
meetings (called “SGMs” at Stanford) cover
topics in the actual design phase or specific
project issues. At regular intervals, students
deliver (semi-)formal presentations and
updates to their industry partners.

10. Learning from the best
Larry Leifer
Product Design
Mechanical Engineering
at Stanford Univeristy
Full NetworkMark Cutkosky
Robotics
Mechanical Engineering
at Stanford
Matteo Vignoli
Managment & Engineering
Food Innovation
at UniMore

11. What do people say?

12. How to apply?
1. Application letter
What do you know how to do?
The projects will need a diverse set of skills (if we work together with Modena for
example their speciality is food innovation, so cooking skills might be useful) so
everything from knowing the basics of welding to how to get a team of 7-year-old
girls to play soccer together may be of relevance.
2. CV
And how/where did you learn it?
3. Study transcript
What courses have you done so far?
Send your application package to:
Juan Felipe Ruiz - juan.ruiz@liu.se
Application deadline: Send you application before Friday, May 19 at 23:59

13. 1. Informative meeting
Monday, May 15 at 14:00
2. Application deadline
Friday, May 19 before 23:59
3. Pre-selection assesments
Wednesday, May 24 (you will be notified)
4. Selection
The students that get selected for 1 of the 24
will be notified in June
Selection process

14. Q. Do students have any private financial
expenses throughout a project?
All travel expenses and prototyping
costs are covered by the university as
part of the course.
Q. How much commitment is needed
from students?
Students commit to a year-long project
and usually work during any semester
break. They average 4 days per week on
project work.
Q. What if students want to drop the
course during the year-long project?
Dropping the course is not an option.
FAQ

15. Contact Information
Marie Bengtsson - marie.bengtsson@liu.se
Juan Ruiz - juan.ruiz@liu.se
Renee Wever - renee.wever@liu.se
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