Purdue University Visits MCI

From smart wearables to apple strudel – U.S. students immerse themselves in technology, tradition, and Alpine charm

MCI The Entrepreneurial School^® recently wrapped up a two-week faculty-led program in partnership with Purdue University titled “Medical & Sports Tech: Design, Innovate and Explore in the Alpine Hub.” This tailored academic experience brought together students from Purdue’s College of Engineering and MCI’s Medical & Health Technologies Department for an unforgettable blend of academic learning, innovation, and cultural exploration.

Throughout the program, the Purdue students completed part of their academic curriculum while diving deep into MCI’s tech-driven and entrepreneurial approach to education:

• Hands-on Innovation: Students built their own health-monitoring prototypes during an interactive workshop led by MCI expert Simon Winkler, fostering creativity and real-world application of medical tech concepts.
• Joint Learning: They participated in a shared session with MCI students, covering cutting-edge wearable technologies including eye-tracking systems and exoskeletons.
• Behind-the-Scenes Access: A guided tour of MCI’s MedTech Lab gave them a firsthand look at ongoing research and development.
• Industry Insights: Students gained unique exposure to Austria’s vibrant health tech landscape:
• At MED-EL, the global leader in hearing implant systems, students toured the cochlear implant production facilities together with Ursula Bayer, and Francesca Bove, who offered expert insights into neurostimulation and implantable devices.
• The group also visited Motum, a local human performance institute, where Simon Wörgötter and Michael Böhmer introduced the students to 3D motion analysis and biomechanics used in injury prevention and movement optimization.
• As part of their transnational experience, students traveled to Munich to explore the Health Simulation Center at LMU, gaining an international perspective on medical training technologies.
• Cultural Immersion: Students fully embraced Austrian culture through activities such as a Tyrolean cooking class, a visit to one of Austria’s oldest bell foundries, and insightful walking tours through Innsbruck led by Monika Unterholzner.

The program was led by Prof. Denny Yu, Associate Professor at Purdue’s College of Engineering and former Fulbright Visiting Professor at MCI. With expertise in human factors and wearable health technologies, Prof. Yu bridged academic rigor with hands-on creativity throughout the experience. The group was accompanied by Aliya Scott, Graduate Program Advisor at Purdue’s School of Industrial Engineering, who led engaging sessions on personal development and professional growth, helping students reflect on their academic journeys and future career paths.

This program is one of several collaborative efforts between Purdue University and MCI, aimed at fostering international academic exchange and giving students a unique global perspective. The partnership continues to grow, opening doors for future joint initiatives in innovation and entrepreneurship.

A special thank-you goes out to Daniel Sieber, Simon Winkler, and Susanne Lichtmannegger for their outstanding support and contributions, which played a key role in making the program a success.

This program was coordinated by Kim Fladda, who oversees MCI’s tailored program offerings for international universities and partners. MCI offers a variety of tailored international programs for universities and organizations seeking impactful, custom-designed learning experiences.