Oamk LABs are an innovative and expanding pre-incubator program at Oulu University of Applied Sciences that focus on entrepreneurship and multidisciplinary learning. Growing from their original LAB – Oulu Game LAB – which focuses on the creation of multidisciplinary teams to build prototypes, products and then start-ups targeting the global games industry. Oamk LABs also have two more LABs: DevLAB which focuses on health, wellbeing and technology. Another one is EduLAB which focuses on the global education technology industry. All work in LABs is conducted in English and programs are full-time and last 4 months (every semester).

The participants of LABs include advanced university students in the fields of software design, graphic design, business and marketing as well as health, education and other professional fields. Oamk LABs also admit international exchange students and professionals for retraining as well as students from the partner LABs in places like Japan (Global LAB Sendai), Netherlands (Groningen Game LAB) and Romania (Game LAB TM). Oamk LABs also partner with existing national and international companies to support the concept design and prototyping processes.

Cornerstones of the LAB-model are work-life orientation, creative problem-solving, concept development, learning by doing, internationalization, entrepreneurship, interdisciplinarity and broad competence-base among participants. Oamk LABs enable learning by experiencing and practical work.

Oamk LABs Research

A team of staff have been actively engaged in research since the LABs began. This work has culminated in an establishment of a formal research group at the Oulu University of Applied Sciences - the LAB research group. This group has over a dozen active members and focuses on theoretical and applied research on the interfaces of interdisciplinarity, entrepreneurship, innovation and pedagogy.

From its earliest days, Oamk LABs have been involved in developing international collaborations to support the quality of the programming and to work with global partners to expand the LAB studio model for use in other contexts around the world. On top of the dozens of Erasmus + partner universities that Oamk LABs work with, a more targeted network of sites has been established with long-term partners that have committed to building a customized LAB program in the regions. The network is called the LABNET. The global LABNET is rapidly growing with 8 current partners and an additional 4 more expected within the next 12 months. The following list outlines the locations and key partners with this collaborative innovation community. This innovation community supports each other to develop programs and regional economic development. Partners:

Sendai, Japan

Principal partner: City of Sendai / Global Lab Sendai

Groningen, Netherlands

Principal partner: Hanze University of Applied Sciences

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Principal partner: American University of Sharjah Enterprises

Timisoara, Romania

Principal partner: Game LAB and Timisoara University of Technology

Burlington, Vermont, USA

Principal partner: University of Vermont

Bratislava, Slovakia

Principal partners: LEAF and the Butterfly Effect Program Consortium

Toronto, Canada

Principal partner: Ryerson University and the DMZ

Kathmandu, Nepal

Principal partners: BUCSBIN project - Kathmandu University, King’s College, Idea Studio and Young Innovations