Global Engineering Innovation: SUGAR & Stanford ME310

Our global capstone project programmes

We particpate in Stanford ME310 Global Design Innovation and SUGAR Network. Find more on these two capstone project programmes on this page

SUGAR Global Engineering Innovation

SUGAR Global Engineering Innovation is a dynamic network uniting students, universities, and companies to advance innovation through hands-on learning. We emphasize human-centered design to help young minds create impactful solutions.

Since 2008, the BTH Product Development Research Lab has partnered with SUGAR.

Comprising 24 top universities globally, SUGAR forms multicultural, multidisciplinary teams to tackle design challenges from corporate partners. SUGAR has grown steadily since its 2008 launch, supported by this strong community.

SUGAR’s mission is to connect universities and industries worldwide, promoting student-led innovation and learning. Our platform empowers students to solve real-world problems with human-centered, responsible design.

What SUGAR is made of…

Real People

•Human-Centered Design: Student teams develop solutions with real users in mind, keeping close contact to ensure their designs are practical and user-friendly.

•Support System: Teaching teams, coaches, and corporate sponsors are there to support students every step of the way.
Real Companies

•Innovation Challenges: Companies bring their project briefs to the table and get fresh insights and ideas from students, tackling their innovation challenges head-on.

•Corporate Engagement: Businesses benefit from the fresh perspectives and innovative solutions generated by student teams.
Real Projects

•Hands-On Experience: Student teams dive into real-world problems, giving them valuable, hands-on learning opportunities.

•Purpose-Driven Innovation: Projects are all about making a real impact, encouraging students to innovate with purpose.
Real Coaching

•Guidance and Support: Both students and corporate sponsors get coached and guided throughout the project.

•Workshops and Training: Companies join workshops to get on the same page as the teams and understand the full potential of Design Thinking.

Follow the projects on Instagram

Updates from SUGAR and ME310 teams, site visits and prototyping: @bthglobalenginneringinnovation on Instagram →

News

2025Mer än ett decennium av innovation – BTH och Volvo formar framtidens teknik

2023Sensorvisir för självkörande fordon – inspirerade av pälsdjur

2023Innovations in Construction Equipment and Trucking using a Biomimicry Approach – EXPE 2023

2023ME310 21-22 at ConExpo in Las Vegas

2023Elektriska entreprenadmaskiner utanför elnätet?

2023Vad i naturen kan göra en grävmaskin bättre?

2022”Det började med en utmaning från Volvo”

2022Hållbar energi i fokus för årets Stanfordprojekt

2022Oasis/Nomad renewable energy solution presented at Stanford EXPEOasis/Nomad renewable energy solution presented at Stanford EXPE

2021A global capstone project course in the age of coronavirus pandemic: Learning from the ME310 ReGlove case

2021Årets Stanfordprojekt blev en lösning för att spåra och återvinna material

2021DNES for tracking Dirt Digitally with Volvo Group presented at Stanford EXPE

2020Studenter på internationell topplista för design av handske

2020Studentidé blev rullande handskfabrik

2019Studenter på innovationsjakt i Silicon Valley

2019V-Com presented at Stanford UniversityV-Com, a precautionary system that communicates safety-critical information between truck drivers and vulnerable road users was presented by six final year MSc…

2018Global Roll-out of Volvo CE Advance at Stanford UniversitySupporting the construction workers of both current and future construction sites has been the topic of the global product development challenge posed…

2017Solving the pains of today and the concerns of tomorrow with Volvo CE and Stanford University

2017The Volvo CE Trace delivered at Stanford EXPE 2017!As the summer approaches the yearly ME310 project with Stanford University draws to a close. This years’ projects were presented at the…

2016cx.Link for Volvo CE delivered at Stanford EXPEBTH and Stanford University students have completed their ME310 project and delivered the cx.Link at the Stanford EXPE.

2015Urban Mining global innovation project with Stanford

2013IDÉUM – Beyond brainstorming!

2013Global product innovation project rollout at Stanford University EXPE 2013Global product innovation project rollout at Stanford University EXPE 2013

Legacy of the ME310 Global New Product Design Innovation Collaboration

ME310 is a capstone course that teaches a global network of student engineers how to challenge complex real-world problems with a design thinking approach.

The BTH Product Development Research Lab (students in Mechanical Engineering programs) partnered with Stanford University’s Design Division and d.school to run ME310 Global. Approximately 100 masters-level students participate each academic year in ME310, including 8-10 from top global engineering and design universities worldwide, hence the “Global” aspect of the project.

During our collaboration, the industrial sponsor (Volvo Construction Equipment) challenged students from BTH and Stanford to solve real-world problems each year. They developed innovative and feasible solutions based on a prompt, often tackling challenges within Volvo’s transformation work. The students gained practical experience and valuable insights through research, prototypes, and tests that helped build their future careers. This collaboration focused on mechanical engineering and product development and occurred between universities worldwide and global players such as Volvo.

“Having collaborated with Stanford and the Design Division and d.school for several years, going back to the 90s, and since moving to BTH, we deepened the collaboration between BTH Mechanical Engineering and Stanford Mechanical Engineering to offer continuous project collaboration in global innovation projects together with industry,” reflects Professor Tobias Larsson of Mechanical Engineering / Product Development Research Lab.

He continues, ”The projects were tough and demanding but ultimately extremely rewarding.”

Over the 11 years of involvement, more than 100 students had the opportunity to participate in these projects, all with the support of Volvo Group companies.

Want to join?

If you want to join our Global Engineering Innovation projects, contact Assistant Prof. Christian Johansson Askling (christian.johansson.askling@bth.se) or Prof. Tobias Larsson (tobias.larsson@bth.se), more info at the bottom of the page.

Previous projects

SUGAR 2024-2025

Smart Solutions for On-site Efficiency

The Product Development Research Lab at BTH is returning for a SUGAR project in collaboration with USP in São Paulo. Volvo Construction Equipment is the industrial partner.

Challenge: How might we enhance on-site efficiency by leveraging AI to develop a business model with integrated product and service components?

Partners: University of Sao Paulo, Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Group Connected Solutions Innovation Lab, and SUGAR Network.

Output: TBD

ME310 2022-2023

Bioinspired design for construction and transportation

Challenge: How might we use Biomimicry in order to design solutions and systems that disrupt traditional solutions thinking in the construction and transportation industries?

Partners: Stanford University, Volvo Trucks (GTT), Volvo Construction Equipment, and Volvo Group Connected Solutions Innovation Lab.

Output: Dryve, a sensor cleaning solution.

ME310 2020-2021

Digital Dirt (Volvo Group)

Challenge: A future where management of construction materials is represented in a digitized form.

Partners: Design Division at Stanford University, Volvo Group Connected Solutions Innovation Lab, and Volvo Construction Equipment.

Output: DNES

ME310 2018-2019

Enhancing partnership between humans and vehicles in the connected society (Volvo Group)

Challenge: Enhancing partnership between humans and vehicles in the connected society.

Partners: Stanford University and Volvo Group Connected Solutions Innovation Lab.

Output: V-Com

ME310 2016-2017

From Elephants to Ants – from Earth to Mars (Volvo CE)

Challenge: From Elephants to Ants – from Earth to Mars

Partners: Design Division at Stanford University and Volvo Construction Equipment.

Output: Trace

ME310 2014-2015

Urban Mining (Volvo CE)

Challenge: Urban Mining.

Partners: Design Division at Stanford University and Volvo Construction Equipment.

Output: NIX

ME310 2012-2013

Idéum – Spaces for innovation (Michano & Volvo CE)

Challenge:Spaces for innovation

Partners: Design Division at Stanford University, Volvo Construction Equipment and Michano.

Output: IDÉUM

SUGAR 2023-2024

Sugar yr 1 – the Human Sensor

The Product Development Research Lab at BTH is starting up a SUGAR project for the first time in collaboration with USP in São Paulo. Volvo Construction Equipment is the industrial partner.

Challenge: How might continuous evaluation of the actual through-life customer needs support sales of site solutions that are tailored to provide higher value to the customer continuously through the lifecycle of the construction equipment?

Partners: University of Sao Paulo, Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Group Connected Solutions Innovation Lab, and SUGAR Network.

Output: The Volvo HS

ME310 2021-2022

Alternative energy infrastructure

Challenge: How do we support EV (electric vehicle) or alternative energy adoption in places with no or broken infrastructure but great need (particularly in remote areas, developing countries, or areas in crisis)?

Partners: Stanford University, Volvo Group Connected Solutions Innovation Lab, and Volvo Construction Equipment.

Output: Oasis/Nomad

ME310 2019-2020

Find new ideas and directions that change how waste management operate on an industrial scale (Volvo Group).

Challenge: A future where waste management and recycling are safe, optimized and sustainable.

Partners: Design Division at Stanford University, Volvo Group Connected Solutions Innovation Lab, Mack Trucks, Volvo Construction Equipment, and Waste Management.

Output: Re-Glove

ME310 2017-2018

The pains of today and concerns of tomorrow (Volvo CE)

Challenge: The pains of today and the concerns of tomorrow

Partners: Stanford University and Volvo Construction Equipment.

Output: Advance

ME310 2015-2016

Human-Autonomous Machine Interaction (Volvo CE)

Challenge: How can automated machines and humans work efficiently in the same area – at same time building trust between each other – without any risk for the humans and without any unplanned downtime for the machines?

Partners: Design Division at Stanford University and Volvo Construction Equipment.

Output: CX-Link