Join the FUTUREGRID Hackathon of INVESTech - Innovation Vocational Excellence in Tech organised by the Fundraising Unit of NCSR "DEMOKRITOS"​.

FutureGrid is a hackathon for students and young people who want to build ideas, solve problems, and create projects together.

Participants will create projects focused on areas such as AI, smart and sustainable cities, green energy, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for inclusion, cloud technologies, and data systems.

Who can join?

• University students (students from STEM, environmental, design, and business-related fields are encouraged to apply)
• Young developers & designers
• Early-stage innovators and creators
• Participants must be 18+

Why participate?

• Learn new skills through hands-on experience in a dynamic environment
• Meet and network with experts across relevant domains
• Build something meaningful in a collaborative and engaging setting
• Enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes access to departments and research laboratories usually closed to the public
• Stay connected through ongoing communication about future events and opportunities

Participants will develop projects focused on:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Green Energy
• Smart & Sustainable Cities
• ICT for Inclusion
• Cloud Technologies
• Data & Digital Systems

Indicative topics of interest:

• Urban sustainability challenges (energy, mobility, waste)
• Climate resilience and environmental monitoring
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for inclusion
• Digital solutions enabling circular economy models
• Data-driven approaches to resource efficiency
• Technology-enabled behavior change for sustainability

Submission of projects:

Each team is required to submit a final presentation (pitch deck) before the final demonstration
day. The presentation will be delivered in front of the judging committee and evaluated based on
the innovation, feasibility, impact, and overall quality of the proposed solution.

Applicants are not required to have a fully developed project idea at the time of application.
Submission of a topic, challenge, or early-stage concept will be requested only after the
application deadline (20th of June).

The presentation should clearly describe:

• The problem/challenge addressed
• The proposed solution and its innovation
• The technology or methodology used
• Potential impact and application areas
• Future development potential and scalability
• Team members and their roles

Suggested presentation length: 5–10 slides.

Application:

Participants will be grouped into teams based on their preferred area of work. If you do not
already have a team, the organizing team will assign you to a group that aligns with your selected
topics.
If you already have a pre-formed team, you may include your teammates’ email addresses in the
designated section of the application form. In this case, your team composition will be considered
as proposed during the application process.

Registration closes at 20th of June 2026 | Available places: 30

You can download the Hackathon information pack from the Shareable Files section below for full details.

The FutureGrid Hackathon is part of the INVESTech, a project co-funded by the European Union.