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Welcome to SOHJO HACKS – International Hackathon in Joensuu, Finland 12.-13. March 2025

Sohjo Hacks is a high-profile international hackathon aimed at fostering rapid innovation trials and driving significant investments in photonics, forestry, and the circular economy. Sohjo Hacks brings together a diverse and highly talented community of companies, researchers, students, and the public sector in Eastern Finland to co-create and develop novel solutions for learning and innovation.

Challenge: Digital Photonics City

Challenge in Brief:

Currently, the city center has traditional digital displays, but new photonics-based technologies and inventions are not being utilized. In addition, the city has data to offer for the development of services for city residents and companies, but it is not being utilized at the moment. What kind of new innovations based on lights and displays and even holograms could be designed for the city center, which take into account the improvement of the city’s digital services and the available data? ​

Solvers: Companies and research groups that develop new photonics-based digital solutions ​

Solutions we might expect:

• A single new technology that is easy to apply in the urban environment ​
• Architectural or technical solutions related to photonics or display technologies related to the city center’s real estate or transport infrastructure ​

About the challenge provider: Nanocomp, Business Joensuu, UEF and the City of Joensuu ​

More info about your project and challenge: TBA.​

Resources: TBA.​

​Judges and mentors: Pasi Vahimaa, Pekka Penttinen, Veli-Pekka Leppänen, Tero Toivanen, Seppo Tossavainen ​

Incentives to participate: 2500€, gets to participate in the preparation of new urban development-related procurements and RDI projects

Schedule:

• Please submit your idea for this challenge by 27. February 2025. We will contact selected teams by 28. February 2025
• SOHJO HACKS hackathon in Joensuu 12. – 13. March 2025
• The winners will be awarded at SOHJO 2025 business event on 14. March 2025. (sohjoevent.fi)

Download Sohjo Hacks general rules HERE

REGISTRATION HERE