What can we do to protect bee populations from declining? That was the question Polish tech company Intelligent Hives asked ECIU University learners, with two students taking on completely different but equally impressive approaches.
The challenge proved to be a unique experience for both the company and the learners – showcasing unexpected perspectives and laying the foundation for future collaborations.
There is more to bees than meets the eye – they play a crucial role in the environment as primary pollinators, supporting the health of entire ecosystems. Yet now they are under threat – with bee populations worldwide declining, and beekeepers struggling to maintain the health of their hives.
So, is it possible to change the game, save the bees and ensure a better, more sustainable future for everyone? That’s exactly what Intelligent Hives aim to do. Based in Lodz (Poland), they have been developing forward-thinking solutions and devices to support beekeepers and protect bee health – creating a global beehive monitoring system.
United by their desire to make a difference and achieve sustainability, the company joined forces with ECIU University – through the ‘BeeCause We Care’ challenge, hosted by Lodz University of Technology (TUL). And with the Intelligent Hives founder, Sebastian Gorecki, being a Lodz University of Technology alumnus, it felt as if the collaboration was simply meant to be.
‘At Intelligent Hives, we firmly believe in the importance of supporting education among youth,’ Sebastian explains. ‘Fostering innovation and critical thinking from an early age is crucial for addressing the complex challenges of our time. The company itself was born out of scientific research at Lodz University of Technology and continues to operate with its values at core.’
The question asked was simple yet complex. How can we develop eco-friendly approaches to support bee health, protect pollinators and promote biodiversity? The participants who took on the challenge presented strikingly different solutions – which only made them more inspiring.
Among ECIU University learners working on the challenge, were João Santos who studies environmental engineering at University of Aveiro (Portugal) and Louis Dumont, a systems engineering student at INSA Toulouse (France).
Louis introduced a practical, yet elegant solution – an AI-powered application that would record and analyze the sounds of bee births inside the hive, allowing beekeepers to monitor bee health more effectively. Inspired by Intelligent Hives’ own devices, the proposal offered a promising starting point for a further, bigger discussion.
Meanwhile, João approached the issue from an alternative angle. His – quite unexpected – idea was to create a website that would keep track of bees born and dying per second due to external factors like climate change – a powerful way to raise awareness, put a spotlight on the issue and encourage more environmentally responsible behaviors.
These might have been two contrasting projects, perspectives and approaches, yet the goal was the same. In the end of the day, the participants’ ideas complemented each other well – due to their joint passion for the subject and desire to make a difference, says Piotr Korbel, a TUL professor and the teamcher who oversaw the challenge.
‘Working in multi-disciplinary teams that include students from various backgrounds allows focusing on different aspects of the problem. With these two solutions, we saw two completely different approaches.
One – more on the technical side, and another – more on the marketing side. Nevertheless, they proved equally promising – each in their own way.’
‘Students’ passion for the subject left me speechless,’
adds Marzena Stawicka, Piotr’s colleague, senior assistant at Lodz University of Technology’s Language Centre, and the provider of Ditch it or Pitch it micro-module embedded in the challenge. ‘I could see how engaged they were during discussions, how real they were.’
‘Seeing them so invested in the challenge and impressed by each other’s proposals felt truly rewarding.’
What made the solutions even more valuable, Piotr points out, is that the learners were the ones taking the lead and deciding which direction to pursue. The result was worth it – putting unique ideas on the table.
‘If you look at the market and some of the most successful companies out there, they all began with an idea’.
It may seem the most important part of the challenge is finished, but this is just the beginning.
As Piotr explains, further meetings between the participants have been taking place, and the challenge itself will also continue into the new academic year, offering an even bigger potential for innovative ideas.
Piotr hopes the cooperation between Lodz University of Technology and Innovative Hives will continue as well, with new challenges introduced. An aspiration Sebastian shares.
‘Supporting projects like these aligns perfectly with our mission at Intelligent Hives,’ he says. ‘By working closely with academic institutions and motivated students, we can collectively push the boundaries of what’s possible in technology and environmental conservation.’
'It's not just about immediate outcomes, but about laying the foundation for a future where sustainable practices and cutting-edge technology. We are excited about the potential for continued collaboration and the innovative projects that lie ahead.’
Meanwhile, some of the ideas presented during the challenge are closer to becoming reality than it seems. Intelligent Hives are currently planning to continue their collaboration with João – and start implementing his solution.
At the end of the day, it’s all about opportunities. For learners, ECIU University challenges like this are a chance to gain new skills, start thinking outside of the box and get to know like-minded peers and organizations. For companies, it can become a way to raise awareness, connect with aspiring talents and explore unconventional perspectives.
‘I see immense value in projects like this,' says Piotr. ‘Especially when you have motivated students who are in charge of deciding how to learn and move forward.’
‘They can bring new solutions to the table – sometimes simple but not obvious. And these ideas might prove game-changing.’