Unigma is Station’s latest signature activity! Founded by Kezia Wexøe-Mikkelsen and Julie Bjerre, two International Business and Politics students from CBS. With their platform, Unigma, they have the modest ambition to widen students tech horizons through knowledge sharing of the newest tech innovations and implementations between students, start-ups, corporations, policymakers, and researchers.
This is Unigma.
UNIGMA is a knowledge-sharing platform that connects and inspires university students. We do it through inspirational content and by connecting students, researchers, and companies. Through the platform, university students can acquire the skills needed to take full advantage of possibilities that technology and digitalization offer – no matter what degree they are pursuing at their universities. At the same time, the content prepares students to participate in important discussions on how technology should be implemented in our societies in the future.
Both of us are CBS-students with an enormous passion for how technologies are used in companies and at a political level. Within minutes of meeting each other, we discovered that we shared a passion for technology and the possibilities it brings. We experienced; what romantic writers would call to find one’s “soul mate”. Besides studying and working at UNIGMA, Kezia used to work at the commerce department at the American Embassy in Copenhagen where topics such as AI and Cyber Security were key. Julie currently works for Save the Children’s Digital Department, where she optimizes and digitalizes internal processes. So tech was – and still is – the place where we want to create an impact!
During the summer of 2019, we spent MANY nights discussing, how we could acquire more knowledge and competencies within tech, as these are not included as a natural part of our studies at CBS. Our research showed that there didn’t exist one platform that gathered knowledge on technology. As a result, the perspectives offered were extremely biased by the faculty or university, they belonged to. It really took us by surprise, since we during the previous years have experienced a growing consensus from both educational institutions and businesses that cross-disciplinarity is a key driver of innovation. Personally, we have also both experienced that we have been most inspired and challenged in cross-disciplinary settings. So one morning, over a sourdough bun and a latte (with half oat milk and half regular milk – seriously try it out!), we decided that we would create one platform that should inspire students through content on new technologies, but also enable them to connect across the different universities. Since that day, we have developed the idea of what UNIGMA is now. It means that there actually exists one platform where tech interested students can find and share knowledge, so we hope that interested students will use it!
We believe that knowledge about new technologies and digitization today is gathered in silos at the technical universities and specific companies. It can make it difficult for other students to gain insight into how new technologies and digitization is been used and how they are affecting our society. We think this is a pity – all students must have access to the latest information about technology so that technology can be implemented responsibly. We, therefore, want to break down those silos by bridging, researchers, companies, and students.
When we had to choose our first technology to go in-depth with, there were so many to choose from. All technologies have elements we can learn from, but one technology seemed obvious: ‘3D printing’. We have learned that 3D printing is absolutely central in sectors such as food, the healthcare system, and the construction sector, where the benefits are many. We have been extremely inspired by how LegendaryVish 3D prints vegan fish, and how Thürmer Tools reconstruct old tools to be able to 3D print new. In both cases, 3D printing has been implemented as a key element that creates a more sustainable and local supply chain. You can read much more about it at Unigma.org!
Are you ready for the changes new technology and digitization will bring in the future? Can you take advantage of the opportunities that technology offers? Do you want a qualified voice in the discussion of how technology shapes our society? Then follow UNIGMA!
Keep updated on Unigma’s work on Instagram and their website!