Germany · DigiCollab Local Hackathon
From Ideas to Impact
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Wednesday, 08 July 2026
09:00 – 16:00 CET
Thursday, 09 July 2026
09:00 – 15:00 CET
ABOUT THE EVENT
The DigiCollab Local Hackathon Germany is a two-day in-person hackathon in Kerpen, where physical, creative, and digital solutions are all treated as equally valid.
Goal: find a real problem in your everyday life or community — and develop a creative, concrete solution for it. The format of the solution is completely open: a Lego model, a concept paper, an app, a built prototype, a campaign, or a sketch — everything counts equally as long as it convincingly addresses the problem.
Format: 24 students, organised into 5 teams of 4–5 people. At the end of Day 2, all teams present live to a jury.
THE THEME
Build the Future: Smart Solutions for Inclusive Communities
Sometimes you notice things in everyday life that could work better — that's exactly what this hackathon is about. Teams design simple but impactful ideas and use them to solve everyday challenges in their community.
Motto: "Make It Local. Make It Real. Make It Yours."
CHOOSE YOUR CHALLENGE AREA
Track A – Mobility & Public Space
How do people get from A to B safely and comfortably? Bike lanes, pedestrian zones, bus/train stops, lighting, wayfinding.
Track B – Environment, Nature & Sustainability
Lack of green spaces, waste, energy waste, noise — models, campaigns or design concepts that create visible improvement.
Track C – Community & Inclusion
Who gets excluded or overlooked in everyday life? Ideas for real participation: meeting places, assistive tools, events, information services.
Track D – Learning, School & Education
What isn't working well at school or in learning? Prototypes, learning aids or room concepts for better learning spaces and methods.
Track E – Open Choice: Your Problem, Your Solution
A topic that genuinely matters to you and doesn't fit any other category — as long as it's real, concrete, and explainable.
TOOLS & MATERIALS
Laptops/PCs (subject to availability), WiFi access,
no-code tools (Canva, Figma, Google Slides),
video/recording equipment (smartphone), templates for
pitch deck and problem canvas.
Lego building sets, craft and creative materials (paper,
cardboard, glue, scissors), whiteboards/flipcharts, sticky
notes, pens, markers, printer for prototype elements
(subject to availability).
AI TOOLS YOU'LL USE
ChatGPT
Idea generation, campaign planning, content writing, scripting, research support, and prototype concept development
Gemini
AI-assisted visual creation, brainstorming, creative ideation, and multimedia content support.
Gamma.app / Canva
AI-powered presentation design, pitch deck preparation, and project showcase creation. Designing social media campaigns, posters, awareness visuals, infographics, and digital communication materials.
CapCut / Canva Video
Video editing, short awareness video creation, campaign storytelling, and social media content production.
Google Sites / Framer / Glide
Creating mini websites, simple digital platforms, interactive project pages, and prototype applications.
WHY IS THIS A STEAM PROJECT
🧬 | Science | Researching real-world digital and social challenges such as misinformation, online safety, inclusion, sustainability, and responsible AI use. |
|---|---|---|
💻 | Technology | Using digital tools, AI platforms, media production applications, and online collaboration technologies to create prototype solutions and campaigns. |
⚙️ | Engineering | Designing and developing functional digital products, prototype systems, structured workflows, and practical solution models through teamwork. |
🎨 | Arts | Creating visual campaigns, storytelling materials, social media content, videos, presentations, and creative communication products for social impact. |
📐 | Mathematics | Analysing user needs, organising project planning processes, managing timelines, evaluating feedback, and developing logical solution structures. |
Day 1 — Wednesday, 08 July 2026
Challenge, Brainstorming, Concept & Prototype Start
09:00
Arrival & Registration
09:00
Arrival & Registration
09:30
Welcome, Project Introduction & Challenge Reveal
09:30
Welcome, Project Introduction & Challenge Reveal
10:00
Getting to Know Each Other & Warm-Up
10:00
Getting to Know Each Other & Warm-Up
10:30
Brainstorming & Problem Definition
10:30
Brainstorming & Problem Definition
11:15
Concept Development
11:15
Concept Development
12:00
Lunch Break
12:00
Lunch Break
13:00
Prototype Start
13:00
Prototype Start
15:30
Continued Work & Planning Wrap-Up
15:30
Continued Work & Planning Wrap-Up
15:45
Daily Wrap-Up & Reflection Circle
15:45
Daily Wrap-Up & Reflection Circle
16:00
End of Day 1
16:00
End of Day 1
09:00
Arrival & Registration
09:30
Welcome, Project Introduction & Challenge Reveal
10:00
Getting to Know Each Other & Warm-Up
10:30
Brainstorming & Problem Definition
11:15
Concept Development
12:00
Lunch Break
13:00
Prototype Start
15:30
Continued Work & Planning Wrap-Up
15:45
Daily Wrap-Up & Reflection Circle
16:00
End of Day 1
Day 2 — Thursday, 09 July 2026
Finalise, Deliver & Present
09:00
Arrival
09:00
Arrival
09:15
Morning Stand-Up
09:15
Morning Stand-Up
9:30
Final Work Phase
9:30
Final Work Phase
11:30
Pitch Rehearsal & Presentation Prep
11:30
Pitch Rehearsal & Presentation Prep
12:00
Lunch Break & Submission Deadline
12:00
Lunch Break & Submission Deadline
12:45
Final Presentations to the Jury
12:45
Final Presentations to the Jury
14:15
Jury Deliberation
14:15
Jury Deliberation
14:45
Awards & Closing
14:45
Awards & Closing
15:00
End & Farewell
15:00
End & Farewell
09:00
Arrival
09:15
Morning Stand-Up
9:30
Final Work Phase
11:30
Pitch Rehearsal & Presentation Prep
12:00
Lunch Break & Submission Deadline
12:45
Final Presentations to the Jury
14:15
Jury Deliberation
14:45
Awards & Closing
15:00
End & Farewell
MEET THE JURY
Expert leaders evaluating the projects.
🇩🇪 GERMANY
Westdeutscher Handwerkskammertag (WHKT)
Hackathon Jury Member
🇩🇪 GERMANY
Westdeutscher Handwerkskammertag (WHKT)
Hackathon Jury Member
🇩🇪 GERMANY
TALENTBRÜCKE GmbH & Co. KG
Hackathon Jury Member
🇩🇪 GERMANY
TALENTBRÜCKE GmbH & Co. KG
Hackathon Jury Member
🇩🇪 GERMANY
Wirtschaftsförderung Rhein-Erft GmbH
Hackathon Jury Member
MEET THE MENTORS
Mentors supporting the teams throughout both days.
🇩🇪 GERMANY
Berufsförderungswerk der Bauindustrie NRW gGmbH
Hackathon Mentor
🇩🇪 GERMANY
Interaktiv GmbH
Hackathon Mentor
🇩🇪 GERMANY
Interaktiv GmbH
Hackathon Mentor
THE TEAMS
24 students · 5 teams (4–5 members each) · 5 participating schools
5 participants
4 participants
5 participants
5 participants
5 participants
SCORING
The jury evaluates each presentation out of 100 points.
Innovation & Creativity
Feasibility & Realisability
Impact & Added Value
Market Potential & Business Model
Presentation
Teamwork & Learning Process (mentor assessment)
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Student-developed digital campaigns and prototype solutions for real-world social and digital challenges
Practical projects promoting ethical AI use, digital responsibility, and online safety
Creative media products including awareness videos, social media campaigns, and educational digital content
Media literacy solutions focused on fake news detection and critical digital thinking
Prototype applications, mini platforms, and interactive digital tools created by student teams
Improved teamwork, communication, creativity, and collaborative problem-solving competences
Hands-on experience in design thinking, rapid prototyping, digital storytelling, and campaign development
Greater awareness of inclusion, accessibility, sustainability, and responsible digital citizenship
EDUCATIONAL TRIP: FINAL EVENT IN TURKEY
The winning team of the hackathon will take part in an educational trip to the international closing event of the DigiCollab project in Balikesir, Turkey, planned for 29 Sept – 04 Oct 2026 — together with participants from Italy and Turkey.
CONTACT & DIRECTIONS
Location: Interaktiv GmbH, Visteonstr. 9, 50170 Kerpen, Germany
By train: From Cologne Central Station take line 19 towards „Düren“ to Sindorf (24 min), then bus line 921 to the Visteonstraße stop, approx. 4 minutes on foot.
By car: Kerpen motorway junction (A4/A61), Kerpen exit; free parking on-site.
Contact: Vanessa Steinfeld, DigiCollab Project Coordination, Interaktiv GmbH – steinfeld@interaktiv.de