Warsaw, Poland – November 17, 2024
IDEAHACK 2024, held on November 16-17 at the IDEAS NCBR headquarters in Warsaw, marked a significant milestone as Poland’s inaugural sciencepreneurship hackathon. Organised as part of the European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability (ELIAS) project, the event aimed to foster collaboration between academia, industry, and investors, emphasizing sustainable AI development.
A Platform for Collaboration
The event attracted 57 participants across 14 teams, each tasked with creating a web platform to connect researchers, entrepreneurs, and financiers. Each solution needed to address diverse stakeholder needs, foster collaboration, and and showcase a demo and presentation. Teams were evaluated on criteria such as project alignment with the IDEAHACK goals, presentation quality, and business potential.
Top Teams and Awards
After two intense days of brainstorming and development, the hackathon concluded with three standout teams:
- NerdNet claimed the first prize of PLN 15,000, impressing judges with their innovative approach.
- HERbata took second place, earning a prize of PLN 10,000.
- Odkluczacze secured third place and PLN 5,000.
Expert Guidance and Mentorship
Participants benefited from the insights of a distinguished panel of mentors and jurors, including industry leaders such as Paulina Skrzypińska (BNP Paribas), Tomasz Trzciński (IDEAS NCBR), Konrad Howard (Booksy), and Marek Dziubinski (Solvemed), Fabrice Filliez (Swiss Embassy in Poland), and others. Their guidance ensured high-quality solutions that aligned with the event’s ambitious goals.
Support from Key Partners
The event was supported by notable organisations. Amazon Web Services provided free cloud environments for prototyping, while Accenture Poland sponsored the grand prize. The hackathon also featured a special guest speech from Piotr Grudzień of Quickchat AI, adding inspiration to the occasion.
A Milestone in Science and Industry
Beyond being a competition, IDEAHACK 2024 served as a vibrant showcase of innovation and collaboration. It demonstrated the transformative potential of AI in uniting diverse sectors to address pressing challenges.
As a pioneering initiative in Poland’s sciencepreneurship landscape, IDEAHACK 2024 set a high standard, igniting momentum for future collaborations that leverage AI for sustainable development.
