From 24 to 26 May 2024, Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) hosted the ENHANCE Hackathons, bringing together some of the brightest student talents from across Europe. Organised by the WUT Student Government, the Herbion Biotechnology Scientific Circle, and the Centre for International Cooperation, in collaboration with student societies from the Warsaw School of Economics, the event featured two parallel international hackathons: the ENHANCE Smart City Challenge and the ENHANCE BioHackathon.
Strong European Participation
Following a competitive selection process, 91 participants were chosen from more than 540 applicants to travel to Warsaw and take part in the event. The participants represented 13 European higher education institutions, including Chalmers University of Technology, ETH Zurich, Gdańsk University of Technology, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, RWTH Aachen University, Technische Universität Berlin, Delft University of Technology, the Universitat Politècnica de València, Warsaw University of Technology, the National Technical University of Ukraine (Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute), Lviv Polytechnic National University, and the Warsaw School of Economics.
Supporting International Cooperation
Thanks to funding from NAWA, the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, 14 students from Ukraine were able to participate in both hackathons. These students came from ENHANCE associated partner institutions, namely the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and Lviv Polytechnic National University, further strengthening international cooperation within the alliance.
Student-Driven and Impact-Oriented
The strong interest in and positive reception of the hackathons among students from ENHANCE partner universities highlight the success of the initiative. First developed within the ENHANCE Student Forum, the hackathons exemplify the value of close collaboration with students in designing engaging and impactful learning experiences. This student-centred approach ensures that activities not only enhance academic learning but also provide valuable real-world experience.
Two Challenges, One Shared Goal
The ENHANCE Smart City Challenge brought together engineering and business students to develop innovative solutions to contemporary urban challenges, while the ENHANCE BioHackathon focused on creative responses to current environmental issues. As part of the programme, members of WUT’s Herbion biotechnology research club organised a team-building field game for BioHackathon participants, introducing key principles of the circular economy.
Intensive Collaboration and Expert Support
The event officially opened on Friday with a welcome address by Grzegorz Robak, Director of the Centre for International Cooperation at WUT. Participants were then assigned to international project teams and worked intensively over the following 48 hours. Throughout the weekend, Smart City Challenge participants benefited from mentoring sessions and lectures on idea generation, pitching, and product development, while BioHackathon participants attended expert-led lectures on the circular economy and waste valorisation from both academic and industry perspectives.
Pitching, Prizes, and Recognition
The hackathons concluded on Sunday with parallel pitching sessions, during which teams presented their projects to expert juries. The Smart City Challenge jury included Łukasz Dwulit, Grzegorz Ganczewski, Wojciech Jeznach, Mariusz Zieja, and Agata Żak, while BioHackathon projects were evaluated by Prof. Joanna Cieśla, Prof. Agnieszka Gadomska-Gajadhur, PhD, Anna Iuliano, PhD, Katarzyna Dąbkowska-Susfał, PhD, and Kamil Wierzchowski, PhD.
The top prize in the Smart City Challenge was awarded to a team from ETH Zurich, NTNU, Technische Universität Berlin, and WUT for their project “LIMPIFY”, which addressed city-wide waste clean-up. The BioHackathon’s first prize went to a team whose project focused on converting cigarette butts into hyaluronic acid using bacteria. The winning teams received a prize of 2,000 euros, while all participants were awarded gifts and diplomas.
Strong Institutional and Industry Support
The event was supported by ENHANCE, NAWA, the Polish National Chamber of Commerce for Electronics and Telecommunications, LG Energy Solution Wrocław Sp. z o.o., and Red Bull, underscoring the strong institutional and industry backing behind the ENHANCE Hackathons.
