Abstract
In pursuit of advancing collaborative practices between HEI and NGOs within the domain of social design, we initiated and realised two pilot projects in different countries: one led by the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (unibz) in Italy (Pilot A), and another by the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK) in Germany (Pilot B). Conducted in different cultural settings, both pilots served as dynamic opportunities for experimentation and learning, enabling participants (including academic and civil society representatives, students, and community members) to navigate the intricacies of interinstitutional collaboration.