The Innovation Co-Lab is Duke’s hub for hands-on, creative technology exploration. Whether you’re building your first website, prototyping a device, or experimenting with AI, the Co-Lab provides the space, tools, mentorship, and community to help you turn curiosity into capability.

Our Mission

The Innovation Co-Lab empowers individuals to creatively and confidently explore their interests, studies, and passions through community, mentorship, and access to unique resources and learning opportunities.

Our Vision

Prototyping a future where creativity, exploration, and hands-on learning are at the heart of higher education.

Our Values

We think of our values not as a list, but as a loop or an engine that powers everything we do:

Curiosity sparks Creativity.  Creativity invites Risk-Taking.  Risk-Taking creates Growth.  Growth opens Minds.  Open Minds build Community.  Communities bring Joy.  Joy fuels Curiosity.  

How do I get started?

The Innovation Co-Lab is a Duke Community resource for learning about, experimenting, and building with technology. We believe that Serious Play can lead to surprising results and inspiring outcomes, and have built a program to encourage and support this mentality. 

Wondering how to get involved?  Enroll in a Roots course to pick up new tech skills in web development or AI.  Drop by our Office Hours for in-depth, one-on-one support for your new project.  Visit one of our four Co-Lab Studios, packed with tools like 3d printers, laser cutters, or virtual reality headsets.  Get design or professional fabrication support for your research or practice through our professional services.  Or pitch your own idea to our Co-Lab grant program for mentorship and seed funding.  

A Few Principles of the Innovation Co-Lab

At the Innovation Co-Lab, culture and community are built through our projects, our partnerships, and our play. These principles reflect our lived-in experience about what it's like to work, learn, and explore here:

  • The Co-Lab is for everyone at Duke, regardless of experience, field of study, background, race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, disability, or neurodivergence.
  • Everyone can make things and creativity isn’t reserved for "creative people".
  • Everything is an experiment. Play, flow, analyze, repeat. Don’t try to create and reflect at the same time (but don't forget to reflect)
  • Skills tend to transfer. Yesterday's play has a funny way of becoming tomorrow's breakthrough.
  • The value of “Hello world” can't be understated – 3d printed trinkets often lead directly to published research.
  • Ask a good question today.
  • The work you do when you should be working is the work you should be doing.
  • Duke is a special place with extraordinary resources. Use them all.
  • There is great value in saying "yes".