elias-ai

IDEASHACK 2026: Bridging AI Research and Industry
2026-06-19 08:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Rome)
IDEASHACK 2026 is a Europe-wide sciencepreneurship hackathon organised by the IDEAS Research Institute within the Horizon Europe project ELIAS – European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability. The event brings together researchers, innovators, and industry leaders to co-create solutions that strengthen collaboration between science and business.
Participants work in interdisciplinary teams to design concepts for platforms that map scientific expertise, research output, and implementation potential. The goal is to accelerate knowledge transfer and identify opportunities where academic research can translate into real-world applications. The hackathon runs in a hybrid format, welcoming teams from across Europe online and culminating in a Demo Day and Grand Final in Warsaw.

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Key Facts

Format: Hybrid
Teams: Interdisciplinary, Europe-wide
Focus: AI, research valorisation, science–industry collaboration
Organiser: IDEAS Research Institute
Project: ELIAS (Horizon Europe)

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Key Dates
23 March – 20 April — Team registration
24 April — Online kick-off
8 May — Project submission deadline
15 May — Finalists announced
19 June — Demo Day & Grand Final (Warsaw)



Key Dates
23 March – 20 April — Team registration
24 April — Online kick-off
8 May — Project submission deadline
15 May — Finalists announced
19 June — Demo Day & Grand Final (Warsaw)

Prizes

1st Place
€5,000

2nd Place
€4,000

3rd Place
€3,000

The first Polish edition of this hackathon took place in November 2024, bringing together interdisciplinary teams working at the intersection of AI, research, and innovation ecosystems.
IDEASHACK 2026 offers an opportunity to collaborate across disciplines, experiment with new ideas, and contribute to building tools that improve how research and innovation interact across Europe.
Read about the previous edition: IDEAHACK 2024: Bridging Academia, Business, and Investors at Poland’s First Sciencepreneurship Hackathon

Ready to build the next generation of science–industry collaboration tools?

Learn More

Join the event

Details

Date: 16-17 November 2024

Location: IDEAS NCBR, Chmielna 69, Varso Tower, Warsaw, Poland

Venue

IDEAS NCBR

Chmielna 69, Varso Tower

Warsaw, Poland

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How to be a (Startup-) CTO
2026-08-31 08:00 - 2026-09-03 17:00 | HPI Potsdam, Campus II, August-Bebel-Str. 88, Potsdam, 14482, Germany
General Info
Description
Key Learnings
CTO Areas
Schedule
Examination
FAQ
Literature
Registration

Seminar
General Information

FormatBlock seminar, combining practical classes and panel discussions
Duration4-day intensive (corresponds to 2 semester hours/week)
ECTS3 ECTS
ExaminationWritten (scenario-based, non-multiple-choice)
LanguageEnglish
ParticipantsMaster's students and PhD candidates in Computer Science
Max. participants75 students
LocationHPI Potsdam, Campus II — August-Bebel-Str. 88, 14482 Potsdam
FeeNone
Module types
ITSE: HPI-MK
HPI-SSK-RW
HPI-SSK-ML
DE: HPI-SSK-RW
HPI-DE-RWM

Registration Deadline
28.08.2026

Summer School
31.08 – 03.09.2026

Exam Date
TBC

Details
Description
The Summer School "How to Be a (Startup) CTO" at HPI in Potsdam Griebnitzsee, close to Berlin, is an intensive 4-day seminar designed for master's students and PhD candidates seeking to understand the multifaceted role of a Chief Technology Officer in startup and tech environments.
Participants will learn about specific tasks and responsibilities of a CTO such as technology strategy, devops, leadership, building high-performing teams, retaining talent, healthy growth, communication, lean analytics and financing tech startups.
The summer school consists of a blend of classes, panels, fireside chats and reflection sessions — not only to gain knowledge but also to engage actively with expert speakers and other participants, and to reflect on their own career path.
The course aims to shed light on three central questions: What defines the role of a CTO in a startup? How does the role change over the growth phase? And what makes a great CTO — what skills are needed and how can one acquire them?

Key Learnings
What You Will Learn

Understand the CTO role in depth

What defines the role of a CTO in a startup and which are the most important roles she has to work with?
What skills does a CTO need and how can one acquire them? What is the difference between a Developer and a CTO?
How does the role of a CTO change over the growth phases of a company?

Solve real-world challenges with expert speakers

How does a sustainable technology strategy look like?
How can I create a masterplan for smooth operations?
How can I retain talent and facilitate healthy growth?
How can I build high-performing product and tech teams?
What does professional communication as a CTO require?
What is my role as a CTO in investment rounds?
How can I set clear, meaningful KPIs?

Develop an informed career perspective

Does the role of a CTO sound interesting to me?
Does this career option align with my interests, values and goals?

Curriculum
7 Core Responsibilities of a CTO
The whole course is broken up into seven central responsibilities — and the questions which come with each:

01 · Tech
Technology Strategy & Architecture
Selecting technology, testing and application architecture, including drafting the strategic vision towards an MVP. Balancing speed-to-market with technical debt and scalability concerns.

02 · HR
Hiring, Managing & Retaining Talent
Building and growing a high-performing team in today's fast-changing world. Local vs. remote strategies, budgeting for developers, and healthy team growth.

03 · Tracking
KPI Definition & Analytics
You can't manage what you can't measure. Choosing the right KPIs, ensuring transparency across the team, and using data to guide decisions.

04 · Product
Product Management & QA
Formalised product management as complexity grows. Working with a CPO, navigating the CTPO role, and ensuring quality assurance is properly owned.

05 · Operations
DevOps, Security & GDPR
Ensuring smooth operations in a DevOps era. Baking security and data protection in from day one and building a masterplan for operational resilience.

06 · Communication
Public Representation & Investor Relations
Communicating with investors, handling Tech DD, negotiating deals, and being a great public communicator who makes complex technology transparent for all stakeholders.

07 · Personal Qualifications
Staying on Top of the Game — and Staying Sane
Managing the immense demands of the CTO role while continuously learning, prioritising ruthlessly, and maintaining the mental stamina to go the distance. Building a startup is a marathon, not a sprint.

Program
Schedule
Details to be confirmed. Agenda below reflects the planned structure.

1

Sunday, 31 August 2026
Technology Strategy & Leadership Roles

ClassTechnology Strategy
PanelRoles & Responsibilities: CTO, CPO, CEO
ClassAI-first Company Building
ClassStaying on Top of the Game
SocialBBQ & Fireside Chat

2

Monday, 1 September 2026
People, Teams & Security

ClassRetaining Talent & Healthy Growth
ClassBuilding High-Performing Product & Tech Teams
ClassSecurity & Data Protection
PanelTransitioning from Engineer to Tech Leader: Personal Growth & Leadership Models

3

Tuesday, 2 September 2026
Operations, Communication & ELIAS Special

ClassCreating a Masterplan for Smooth Operations
ClassTalking Business — Communication for CTOs

ELIAS
Exclusive Panel: "A Shifting Mind: Transitioning from Scientist to Entrepreneur" ★ ELIAS Exclusive

4

Wednesday, 3 September 2026
Analytics & Financing

ClassLean Analytics — Setting KPIs that Matter
PanelFinancing Tech Startups — VC, Angels & Deal Terms

Assessment
Examination
The course ends with a scenario-based written examination (non-multiple-choice) covering all topics. Questions are compiled by the speakers and curated by HPI. Students will be presented with real-world situations and asked to describe how they would handle them — demonstrating both conceptual understanding and practical judgment.

FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions

How do you handle confidentiality of information shared during the program?
While we will keep all information within our support team, we cannot guarantee complete confidentiality of information leaking to the outside world. Speakers are made aware of the academic context.

How does HPI deal with intellectual property created during the course?
We do not anticipate any intellectual property created as a direct result of our program. Furthermore, HPI does not consider use of office space and infrastructure as constituting a significant use of HPI resources with regards to IP.

I am an external (non-HPI) student. Can I apply?
Yes! We offer a few places for non-HPI students. Please send your certificate of study, a current CV, and 3–5 sentences of motivation to program(at)hpi.de. Participants who do not require ECTS can apply by mail without the enrolment certificate.

What are the ELIAS-affiliated spots and what do they cover?
20 spots are reserved for ELIAS and ELLIS network participants. For these participants, travel and accommodation expenses are covered. Apply via the registration form and indicate your ELIAS/ELLIS affiliation.

What is the teaching format?
A block seminar combining practical classes, panel discussions, fireside chats, and reflection sessions. Learning happens through three dimensions: knowledge (business & project management), experience (first-hand learning from real CTOs), and networking (connecting with fellow students and field experts).

Reading
Literature

📘Beasly, John — The Modern CTO
📘Petrikhin, A. (2017) — Specifics and core functions of the CTO position and "Hidden CTOs" in the technology management processes. Dissertation, Steinbeis University of Berlin.
📘Devine, Rorie — The CTO | CIO Bible: The Mission, Objectives, Strategies and Tactics Needed to Be a Super Successful CTO | CIO
📘Ries, Eric — The Lean Startup

📅 Deadline: 28.08.2026
Apply Now →

Program Details
FormatBlock seminar
Duration4 days
ECTS3 ECTS
Max. students75
ELIAS funded20 spots
FeeFree
LanguageEnglish

Contact Person

TR

Dr. Tristan Ricken
Program Manager
Tristan.Ricken@hpi.de

Organiser

HPI Engine · ELIAS
Hasso Plattner Institut
August-Bebel-Str. 88
14482 Potsdam, Germany
engine.hpi.de →
·
elias-ai.eu →

Registration
Ready to Join?
Registration Deadline: 28.08.2026

1
HPI students register via CAS (the standard HPI registration system).

2
Non-HPI students: send your certificate of study, CV and a motivational letter (3–5 sentences) to program@engine.hpi.de

3
No ECTS required? Apply by mail to program@engine.hpi.de without the enrolment certificate.

⭐
ELIAS / ELLIS Affiliated Students: We offer 20 spots for participants from the ELLIS and ELIAS network, with travel and accommodation covered. Apply via the form and indicate your affiliation.

Apply Now →
HPI Engine Page ↗

All Hands Meeting of the German AI Centers & ELIAS Alliance FROntier AI Summit
2026-10-07 08:00 - 2026-10-08 17:00
Event overview
Two networks, one agenda for European AI

The Tübingen AI Center is pleased to host this year's All Hands Meeting of the six
German AI Excellence Centers. For 2026, the meeting runs jointly with the
ELIAS Alliance FROntier AI Summit, creating a single, larger gathering for the
European AI research community.

The host, Tübingen AI Center, is a hub for "European AI with purpose," carried by the
Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen in close cooperation with the
Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems.

01Network of the German AI Excellence Centers
02ELIAS Alliance — European Leadership in Innovation with AI and Science

Agenda & schedule are in development. Sessions, speakers and the full programme will be announced closer to the event.
Official event site →

Open calls
Contribute to the summit

Call for proposals
Workshops & Tutorials

Propose a 1.5-hour workshop or tutorial on emerging research directions, open problems, or novel
methodologies in frontier AI — agentic self-improving systems, world models, long-horizon reasoning,
multi-modality, safe and causal AI, and applications across education, science, administration,
open-source work, and social impact.

SlotThu 8 Oct, 09:00–10:30
CapacityUp to 8 in parallel
FormatIn-person only
Proposal lengthMax 2 pages

10 June 2026Applications open
20 July 2026, EODSubmission deadline
31 July 2026Notification of acceptance

Full call details →
Email submission

Award ceremony at this summit
Call for nominations
ELIAS Alliance FROntier AI Award

Nominate outstanding leaders of Focused Research Organisations — startups, nonprofits, open-source
consortia — advancing frontier AI for real-world impact. The award recognises individuals who bridge
academic research and value creation, judged on impact, innovation, integrity, and leadership.

Submission deadline31 Aug 2026
AnnouncementAt this Summit, Stuttgart
Submission length1 page + materials

The inaugural award went to Max Welling for founding Cusp AI, presented at the AI Summit AIS25 in
Copenhagen.

Nomination process →

Practical information
Plan your visit

Dates
7–8 October 2026

Two-day programme, Wed–Thu

Venue
Messe Stuttgart

Messepiazza 1, 70629 Stuttgart, Germany

Organiser
Tübingen AI Center

tuebingen.ai →

Event website
ahm.tuebingen.ai

Registration & travel →

Agenda
In development

Programme details to follow

Networks
German AI Centers + ELIAS

Joint summit, single registration

Questions
Don't hesitate to reach out before the summit.

Event inquiries
ahm@tuebingen.ai

General inquiries
info@tuebingen.ai

Visit event website →
