mAIntain mOUntains – international workshops

In January and February 2026, the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology became a center for international project cooperation. PJAIT as the main organizer of the project together with Politecnico di Milano, initiated and conducted the mAIntain mOUntains workshops, implemented as part of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program (BIP).

The project involved lecturers and students from seven European universities, who worked together on projects exploring the relationship between design, the natural environment, and major sporting events.

Design in the face of contemporary mountain challenges

The mAIntain mOUntains project addresses a question that is particularly relevant in the context of the upcoming Cortina-Milano 2026 Winter Olympics: how do major sporting events affect mountain ecosystems and local communities?

Workshop participants analyzed issues related to sustainable development, cultural heritage, transportation, new technologies, health, and the relationship between humans and nature. The reference point for the projects was the Valtellina Valley, an Alpine region where some of the Olympic competitions are held.

The project work was carried out in international teams, which sought new scenarios for the future of mountain regions through research, data analysis, and project activities.

International cooperation between seven universities

Approximately 100 students and lecturers from seven academic institutions participated in the workshops:

Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology (Poland)
Politecnico di Milano (Italy)
The Nantes Atlantique School of Design (France)
Strate School of Design (France)
Cologne University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
Higher School of Design, IPCA (Portugal)
University of Aveiro (Portugal)

The workshop program was divided into two stages. The first took place in Warsaw on January 19–23, 2026, and the second in Milan on February 16–20, 2026. The project methodology combined scientific research, participatory co-design laboratories, prototyping, and digital simulations.

The exhibition as a result of cooperation

The result of several weeks of work is an exhibition presented from March 9 to 13, 2026, at the Bovisa Politecnico di Milano campus. The exhibition includes large-format visualization boards, video installations, models and prototypes, as well as publication materials created as part of student projects.

The event has been included inthe Cultural Olympiad as an official accompanying event of the Cortina-Milano 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

The exhibition will also be presented atthe Italian Institute in Warsaw, and its next installment is planned during Milan Design Week at another location in Milan.

A common design language

The mAIntain mOUntains project demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary and international academic cooperation. Students and lecturers representing different cultures, design traditions, and academic backgrounds have created a common platform for discussing the future of mountain regions in the context of tourism, climate change, and global sporting events.