Hack the Future:
24h Brain Activity
for Public Sector Solutions
hackathon
October 24-25, 2024, Kaunas, Lithuania
Do you want to build a better future for public services?
We đź’› tech for good purposes!
Join the hackathon which aims to utilize cutting-edge technologies to solve public sector challenges
🌍 4 countries
Lithuania, Latvia, Finland and Poland
🎯 10+
Challenges
đź’¬ 2 days
October 24-25 in Tech-Park Kaunas, Lithuania
Why worth it?
Let's work together to create innovations that enhance the efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of public services!
Turn your skills into rewards! Compete for a share of 4000 Eur in cash. In addition to prizes, winners will gain recognition, opening doors to future opportunities.
Demo Pitch. Get the chance to present your solution in front of a panel of experts.
Expert Guidance. Throughout the hackathon, you'll have access to seasoned experts from various fields - tech, business, and public sector.
Supportive Community. Collaboration is key!
How to participate?
You’re already on the right path just by reading this! Over 10 organizations from the Baltic Sea region have identified key challenges citizens face or areas where tech solutions are needed.
Explore the challenge descriptions and find the SPECIAL ONE that interests you or aligns with your expertise. Whether you want to solve it solo or with a team, this is your chance to create a meaningful tech solution!
Submit your draft solution. Imagine how you could elaborate on this solution solving.
Drafts will be evaluated based on the following criteria:Â
(1) Novelty (scientific and/or technological excellence, cross-industry, cross-sector and cross-national dimension).Â
(2) Business potential (market need, business development potential, market impact, team skills & experience).Â
(3) Technical/scientific match (fit with the challenge, implementation).Â
Apply by sharing your skills and how you can contribute - whether you’re a developer, designer, or innovator. The organizers will contact the most motivated and fitting participants.
Feel free to bring a friend or gather a whole team and register together!
Discover the challenges
#1
AI-Powered Consultation SystemÂ
Category: Digital transformation
Challenge owner: The State Forest Service, Kaunas, Lithuania
The State Forest Service is looking for innovative solutions to streamline their consultation process. Currently, over 6 hours per day are spent answering repetitive inquiries, and they need an AI-based system that can generate accurate responses, provide specialist contacts, and allow live consultation bookings. The system will be available 24/7 at regional offices, improving efficiency and reducing errors.
#2
AI-Powered Chatbot for Library ModernizationÂ
Category:Â Digital transformationÂ
Challenge owner:Â Kaunas County Public Library (Ä„Ĺľuolyno biblioteka), Kaunas, Lithuania Â
Kaunas County Public Library aims to revolutionize its online presence by developing an AI-powered chatbot that seamlessly interacts with users. The task is to design a WordPress plugin integrating advanced language models (like ChatGPT, Claude, or Llama 3.1) that processes both textual and visual content. This bilingual bot will enhance the user experience by providing precise answers and assistance, making library services more accessible and engaging for all users. Â Â
#3
A Route Planning for Walking in the City During the Extreme HeatÂ
Category:Â Urban mobilityÂ
Challenge owner:Â Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service, LithuaniaÂ
As climate change progresses, we increasingly encounter prevalent hot weather. In the city, walking to reach a desired destination during hot and sunny weather can become a real challenge. Particularly vulnerable during such journeys are the elderly and those suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Current navigation apps select the closest routes because pedestrians could benefit from the shade provided by trees and buildings, thereby avoiding direct sunlight. This prevents the journey from being made more comfortable and safer for health.Â
#4
Public Problem Troubleshooting Information Chain
Category: Smart cities & infrastructure | Public safety | Digital transformation
Challenge owner: SIA Smiltenes NKUP, Smiltene, Latvia
Currently, public issues like disturbances or broken infrastructure are reported through multiple channels (calls, messages, social media), causing duplicate reports and slowing response times. The challenge is to develop a platform where people can report issues, track progress in real-time, and avoid duplicate complaints. This will streamline the process for both citizens and municipalities, allowing them to focus on resolving issues faster.
#5
Streamlining Market Organization
Category: Entrepreneurship support | Digital transformation
Challenge owner: Smiltene Municipality, Smiltene, Latvia
Organizing large-scale markets with over 100 businesses twice yearly requires significant administrative effort – from managing applications to processing payments and setting up venues. The task is to create a centralized platform that simplifies the entire process, from application submission to invoicing, minimizing organizer involvement and reducing errors. The platform must be user-friendly, accommodating participants' varying levels of digital literacy.
#6
Enhancing Public Access to Rauna Medieval Castle's Hidden Heritage
Category: Cultural and historical heritage
Challenge owner: Rauna Cultural and Historical Heritage Center, Smiltene Municipality, Latvia
Rauna Medieval Castle is a vital archaeological monument in the Baltic region, but much of its historical significance remains hidden underground or inaccessible. The challenge is to develop a modern, technology-based solution that allows visitors to explore the castle's hidden treasures, such as archaeological findings, underground walls, and lost architectural elements. This solution should work on smart devices and make the castle's rich history more accessible to the public.
#7
Automatic Ice Phenomena Monitoring
Category: Digital transformation
Challenge owner: Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service, Lithuania
Observers working at water measurement stations determine daily, for example, that there is dense frazil ice (8 points), or the river is frozen, or there is water vegetation along the shore (3 points), and so on. Automatic monitoring of ice phenomena, using video footage or other means, would help to observe such phenomena more efficiently, and perhaps more accurately.
#8
City Traffic Optimization
Category:Â Digital transformationÂ
Challenge owner:Â Kaunas IN agency, Kaunas, Lithuania Â
Kaunas City Municipality is inviting tech hackathon participants to tackle the challenge of optimizing city traffic for a smarter, greener, and more efficient urban experience. Participants will be tasked with developing innovative solutions that leverage real-time data, intelligent systems, and sustainable approaches to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, and enhance public transportation. The goal is to create a future-proof traffic management model that benefits residents and visitors while reducing the city's carbon footprint.
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#9
Exploring the Potential of Digital Twin for Urban Development
Category:Â Smart Cities & InfrastructureÂ
Challenge owner: City of Jämsä, Finland Â
The City of Jämsä seeks an innovative digital twin solution to enhance urban planning and resource allocation across its multi-centered region. Participants are tasked with developing a digital twin that engages residents, businesses, and stakeholders in the planning process, decentralizes development, and analyzes collected data using tools like AI. The solution should make urban planning more accessible and participatory for all age groups.Â
#10
Automated Alt Text Generation for Digital AccessibilityÂ
Category: Digital transformation
Challenge owner: Municipality of Pruszcz Gdański, Poland
Public institutions in Poland are required by law to provide alternative text (alt text) for images on their websites to ensure accessibility for users with visual impairments. However, manually adding alt text to large photo galleries is time-consuming and often leads to incomplete descriptions. The challenge is to develop an AI-powered tool that automates the alt text generation process, seamlessly integrating with Rubic CMS and WordPress. This tool must ensure WCAG compliance and allow for manual adjustments.
#11
Local B2C Relationship Tool for TargĂłwek District in PolandÂ
Category:Â Economic and social development | Local market developmentÂ
Challenge owner: TargĂłwek District Hall, Warsaw, Poland  Â
TargĂłwek District, known for its strong economic activity, aims to strengthen the relationship between local businesses and residents. The challenge is to develop an IT tool that connects local entrepreneurs with residents by providing access to business data, product offers, customer reviews, and promotional opportunities. This solution should integrate AI, AR, and other technologies to facilitate engagement, joint purchases, and community-driven commerce, all managed easily by the district office. Â
#12
Student Organizations' Network Development ToolÂ
Category:Â Education | NetworkingÂ
Challenge owner: Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland Â
Student research clubs at the Warsaw School of Economics operate independently, often with limited collaboration and scattered resources. The goal is to develop an IT tool that centralizes data on student organizations, facilitates collaboration, and streamlines the sharing of initiatives and resources. The tool should use AI to analyze data, connect organizations, and promote joint events, while offering a user-friendly interface to foster engagement and coordination.
#13
Cutting-edge Solutions to Transform Joensuu’s City CenterÂ
Category: Environmental sustainability | Smart cities & infrastructure
Challenge owner: City of Joensuu, Finland
Joensuu seeks innovative solutions to revitalize its city center, enhancing its appeal, functionality, and sustainability. Participants are tasked with addressing key challenges, such as modernizing public spaces, promoting sustainable urban planning, improving transportation, and fostering community engagement. The goal is to create a vibrant, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable urban environment that attracts new businesses and enhances the quality of life for all residents and visitors.
#14
IT-based Solutions to Address Disorderly Behavior and Wild Geese in Heinola’s Parks
Category: Public Safety
Challenge owner: City of Heinola, Finland
Heinola’s parks face issues with disruptive behavior from alcohol and drug users, as well as the invasion of wild geese. These problems impact public safety, cleanliness, and the local economy. The city is looking for IT-based solutions that can manage and monitor these issues, such as smart surveillance systems, digital deterrent tools, or apps to report incidents in real-time. The goal is to create a safe and clean environment for residents, businesses, and visitors.Â
#15
Innovative companies' application formÂ
Category:Â Smart citiesÂ
Challenge owner:Â TIPVA, LithuaniaÂ
TIPVA association presents a unique challenge for hackathon participants: redesigning the application form process for innovative companies. The goal is to create a streamlined, user-friendly experience that encourages creativity and simplifies the submission of groundbreaking ideas. Participants must integrate modern technologies to ensure efficiency, accessibility, and clarity for applicants of all tech backgrounds. This challenge invites forward-thinking solutions that foster science and technology parks' reputation as hubs for innovation and entrepreneurship.
MENTORS AND EXPERTS
Get to know our Superheroes Club
Dr. Andrius Puksas
Vice-chairman at The Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania
Inga Uus
Marketing strategist, Business development consultant, product innovation and new product development specialist
Martynas Bajoraitis
Cyber security specialist, NodeJS, Java, Angular, React, PHP, Spring Boot expert
DeimantÄ— JenceviÄŤienÄ—
Project expert, R&D grants, innovation funding
Evaldas Guogis
Senior Software Developer, leading a small team working on a cloud platform for middleware development
Dr. Erika VaiginienÄ—
Foresight methodologist skilled in Business Planning, Analytical Skills, and Coaching
Dr. Neringa Ĺ eperienÄ—
Member of Tech-Park Kaunas community, co-founder of a startup BrachyDOSE
Aivaras KnieĹľa
International Sales and Business Development Expert, Sales Director, Elinta Charge
Milda GaulienÄ—
Marketing and communication expert, also skilled in project management; marketing specialist at Nando
Tomas ProsceviÄŤius
Entrepreneurial Project Manager at KTU Startup Space with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry
Kazimieras Bagdonas
Cybersecurity researcher at Kaunas University of Technology and software engineer at an international corporation working on developing devices for industrial safety applications and cybersecurity
PhD Eng Michal Klepka
Director of Urban Policy and Innovation at Mazovia Development Agency, lecturer, and innovation-driven entrepreneur
Timeline
September 30, 2024
Submit your ideas
October 8, 2024
Announcement of selected solutions
October 24-25, 2024
Hackathon in Kaunas
Hackathon Agenda
Get ready for inspiring topics
We’ll begin with a creativity topic to help you confidently showcase your ideas. Next, dive into a pitching session to sharpen your pitch delivery and storytelling.
Find out about networking skills
Plenty of time for networking, where you’ll connect with like-minded innovators and potential collaborators.
Meet the entrepreneurs and business mentors
Throughout the hackathon, you’ll have access to one-on-one mentoring sessions with industry experts to guide you in refining your ideas and tackling challenges.
Day 1 🟡 OCT 24
9:00 – 9:30Â
Registration, coffeeÂ
9:30 – 9:50 Â
Opening and keynote address by Katriin Vannik, LUT University (Finland)Â
9:50 – 10:10Â
Introduction to the program and presentation of challengesÂ
10:10 – 11:10Â
Inspirational session: Creativity Changes Everything by Tomas Ramanauskas, creativity expert (Lithuania)Â Â
11:10 – 13:00Â
Hacking session 1: work in groups, meetings with challenges owners, consultations with mentorsÂ
13:00 – 14:00Â
Lunch breakÂ
14:00 – 16:30Â
Hacking session 2: work in groups, consultations with mentorsÂ
16:30 – 17:00Â
Pitching for Success: workshop with Paulius Nezabitauskas, Tech-Park Kaunas (Lithuania)Â
17:00 – 17:10Â
Wrap-up of the dayÂ
17:10 – 18:15 Â
Leisure time: snacks, VR/AR activitiesÂ
18:15 – 22:00*Â
Late-night work session: push your ideas forward!Â
*Participants are not obliged to stay at Santaka Valley until 22:00. Those who will stay should leave the premises by 22:00Â
Day 2 🟡 OCT 25
9:00 – 9:20Â
Registration, coffeeÂ
9:20 – 9:30Â
Opening of the dayÂ
9:30 – 10:30Â
Work in groups: getting ready for a pitchÂ
10:30 – 12:00 Â
Fine-tuning the pitch: one-on-one consultationsÂ
12:00 – 13:00Â
Lunch breakÂ
13:00 – 14:30Â
The final pitch: presenting solutions for public sector innovationÂ
14:30 – 15:30Â
Networking breakÂ
15:30 – 16:00Â
Announcement of results and the awards ceremonyÂ