lens

What lens does

LeNS (Learning Network on Sustainability) is an international academic research network coordinated by LeNS Lab at Politecnico di Milano in Milan, Italy, established in 2005 with formal network spin-outs beginning in 2007. It operates with a multipolar, learning-by-sharing, open-access ethos focused on developing and diffusing the Design for Sustainability (DfS) discipline across higher education curricula, research, and corporate practice. The network comprises eight regional subnetworks (LeNS Africa, South America, Central America, Oceania, German Speaking Languages, China, India, and Colombia) and has engaged 36+ university partners across Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, India, China, UK, Finland, Netherlands, and Italy under its ERASMUS+ funded LeNSin project.

Name

lens

Legal name

LeNS Lab

Website

https://lens-international.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

LeNS is an academic research network at Politecnico di Milano that develops and disseminates open-access Design for Sustainability education, methodology, and consulting to universities, researchers, and corporate clients worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Milano

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research grants and project funding: Primary funding through European Union framework programs (Erasmus+, EduLink, Asia Links, Life+, Culture program, 5th/6th Framework), United Nations programs (UNEP, UNIDO), and Italian Ministry of University and Research (MIUR). These grants fund coordinated international research and curriculum development projects.
2. Corporate sustainability consultancy: Fee-for-service consulting engagements with companies seeking Life Cycle Assessment, eco-design guidelines, product redesign, and sustainability training. Clients include major corporations like KONE, Tetra Pak, Artemide, Illy, and De'Longhi.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lens (LeNS) coordinates an international academic network for Design for Sustainability, offering free MOOCs (notably 'Ecodesign: Designing Products with a Low Environmental Impact'), open-access learning materials, and applied corporate consulting. The organization conducts and disseminates research in Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Design, and Product-Service System design for partner universities and corporate clients including KONE, Tetra Pak, Artemide, and De'Longhi.

Product overview

LeNS (Learning Network on Sustainability) is an international academic network based at Politecnico di Milano that offers educational products and sustainability research services. The core offerings include the open-access MOOC 'Ecodesign: Designing Products with a Low Environmental Impact' and an Open Learning E-Package of modular teaching materials. The network operates through its platform connecting universities and institutions globally (LeNS Africa, LeNS South America, LeNS Central America, LeNS Oceania, LeNS China, LeNS India, and LeNS German Speaking Languages), while providing consulting services such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), company-specific design guidelines, scenario development, and training courses on Design for Sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LeNS Africa: Regional network for Design for Sustainability in Africa
• LeNS South America
• LeNS Central America
• LeNS Oceania
• LeNS German Speaking Languages
• LeNS China
• LeNS India
• LeNS Colombia

Products and services

• MOOC Ecodesign: Designing Products with a Low Environmental Impact Free, open-access Massive Open Online Course on ecodesign principles and low environmental impact product design, offering short lessons, optional quizzes, and certificates of participation for global learners.
• LeNS Network (Learning Network on Sustainability) International network of Higher Education Institutions and organizations focused on development and diffusion of Design for Sustainability discipline, operating with multipolar, learning-by-sharing, open access ethos. Includes regional networks: LeNS Africa, LeNS South America, LeNS Central America, LeNS Oceania, LeNS German Speaking Languages, LeNS China, LeNS India, and LeNS Colombia.
• Design for Sustainability Research and Consulting Services Applied research and consulting services including Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), company-specific guidelines for low environmental impact design, tools for product/service/system design and assessment, sustainable design-orienting scenarios, and company-specific training courses on Design for Sustainability. Clients include KONE, Tetra Pak, Artemide, NECTA, Illy caffè, De'Longhi, Bonaveri, and Carrier.
• Sustainability Maker Platform Open innovation, crowd-sourcing, crowd-voting, and crowd-funding platform and online marketplace for Sustainable Solutions, connecting people with sustainability-related problems to those who develop creative problem-solving solutions. Hosts Design Challenges on climate change, energy, resource efficiency, water, food, urban environment, and waste.

Named customers20 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• European Union ERASMUS+ ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015EU-supported project LeNSin – the International Learning Network of networks on Sustainability. Multipolar network of networks for curricula development on Design for Sustainability focused on Sustainable Product-Service Systems applied to Distributed Economies.
• European Union EduLink ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013EU-supported LeNSes – the Learning Network on Sustainable Energy Systems. Multi-polar network for curricula and lifelong learning capacity development on System Design for Sustainable Energy for All focused on Sustainable Product-Service System applied to Distributed Renewable Energies.
• European Union Asia Links Programme (EuropAid)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007LeNS – the Learning Network on Sustainability. Three-year project involving 7 design schools in Europe and Asia to develop multi-polar network for curricula development on Design for Sustainability focused on Product-Service System.
• Global UNIDO Network of University Chairs on InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007System design for sustainable pilot project aiming at introduction of locally-based and long-lasting mobility system for low-income contexts in Africa, involving African and European universities.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Preparation of UNEP ecodesign guidance package including modules on Product Service Systems and internal communications.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Product-Service Systems and Sustainability research project orienting an ongoing trend towards sustainable solutions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lens_network
• Facebookfacebook.com/lensinternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lensnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about lens