A hackathon is an event where people and students with different interests and backgrounds can meet. A standard requirement for hackathon teams is that they should be comprised of engineers, business-oriented people, designers, and communicators to play the different roles required for an idea to succeed.

It is in the best interests of universities to collaborate closely with industry because in the process, universities can obtain insights into what industry expects from them. Close collaboration also facilitates the commercialisation of successful research and provides students with some of the best job positions available in the market.

Hence, hackathons are ideal rendezvous points for university and industry representatives. Companies can sponsor hackathons and pose real-world challenges. Meanwhile, students can gain practical experience solving real-world problems. As a result, businesses can scout talent and acquire innovative ideas while students put on their thinking caps and "place themselves in the shop window" for the best job opportunities.

Students tend to focus on their field of study to the extent that they forget about the everyday challenges that they could solve with their specialised knowledge. Therefore, a hackathon is a great way to raise awareness about specific challenges that need to be addressed, and occasionally, even local ones.

A themed hackathon can be the best way to involve students in practical projects to drive meaningful change. This is what truly motivates the younger generation. Additionally, it is a good way to talk to potential partners or businesses within the local community.

A hackathon can provide a forum for current students and alumni to exchange information and opinions. Alumni are often industry experts and can take mentor roles during the hackathon. They can also become participants and create meaningful projects together with current students. This is where the real power of community lies. This collaboration can lead to other opportunities for all parties involved.

Universities can offer various valuable tools for hackathon participants, such as prototyping labs, startup incubation programmes, and, in some cases, even access to seed funding. Such tools are essential not only during the hackathon but also afterwards. Universities can help promising ideas evolve into fully developed products or companies. Moreover, students can present their achievements to faculty and industry leaders with whom universities collaborate.

There are no limits to hackathons. Especially when using ready-made platforms that care for all organisational aspects. Hackathons are an excellent way for universities to promote themselves overseas by organising hybrid or virtual hackathons with international participants. Thus, hackathons can serve as a showcase for universities to engage potential students and industry partners from across the globe. This can also result in a different level of innovation.

In the autumn of 2024, Riga Technical University Science and Innovation Centre organised the Baltic AI Hackathon in cooperation with Meta, IBM, Tallinn University of Technology, University of Tartu and Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. The winners were selected from 34 teams and 150 students across the Baltics. According to a statement from Vilnius Tech, “For VILNIUS TECH students, BalticAIHack was more than just a competition; it was an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art AI technologies. The students developed new skills in natural language processing and AI-driven problem-solving while collaborating in interdisciplinary teams by working with Meta's Llama and IBM Watson. The event gave them valuable insights into how AI can be applied to complex challenges in education and beyond.”

“The use of artificial intelligence is gaining momentum, and in some situations, supply is already outstripping the capacity to implement AI solutions because this requires both resources and the appropriate expertise. In just 48 hours, students have created solutions that facilitate work in public administration and the private sector and contribute to society. This shows that everyone needs the skills to use AI. We are particularly pleased with the close cooperation of the Baltic Technical Universities in the implementation of this event, as well as with the interest of large companies and policymakers in contributing to the development of AI in the region,” says Liene Briede, RTU Vice-Rector of Innovation.

HackTribe has collaborated with several universities in organising hackathons – including Baltic AI Hack – by streamlining and automating key processes such as participant registration, team formation, mentor scheduling, and result evaluation. We are here to share our experience and help organise a great hackathon! Don't hesitate to book a short introduction call.