MunichTech EXPO

Overview

The MunichTech EXPO Hackathon is a Europe-focused innovation challenge designed to bring together developers, researchers, students, startups, and industry professionals. Its purpose is to foster applied innovation, open collaboration, and long-term impact by building practical, high-impact technology solutions for real-world problems that are strategically critical for Europe’s future independence and competitiveness. Participants will work on challenges across various domains, including Artificial Intelligence and applied machine learning, digital sovereignty and European tech infrastructure, Industry 4.0, manufacturing, supply chains, digital health and public services, sustainability, energy, climate technology, data platforms, automation, and enterprise software. This hackathon emphasizes usable, deployable solutions rather than just concepts, featuring real-world problem statements inspired by industry, research, and public sector needs. Participants will gain direct exposure to companies, investors, universities, and innovation leaders at the MunichTech EXPO, with a focus on building technology in Europe, for Europe, with global relevance. Selected projects will be showcased during the MunichTech EXPO, gaining significant visibility among enterprises, investors, and ecosystem partners.

What to build

Participants must build practical, high-impact technology solutions for real-world problems facing Europe, focusing on applied innovation, open collaboration, and long-term impact. Challenges span domains such as Artificial Intelligence, digital sovereignty, Industry 4.0, digital health, sustainability, and enterprise software. Solutions should be usable, deployable, and address real-world problem statements.

Prizes

Key dates

• Hackathon PeriodSeptember 1 – 20, 2026

Eligibility

The hackathon is open to individuals aged 18 years or older. Participants may take part as individuals or in teams. Teams may consist of members from different organizations, universities, or countries. Organizers, judges, mentors, and sponsors may not compete. All countries/territories are eligible, excluding standard exceptions.

How to enter

1. Join hackathon on Devpost
2. Form a team of 2 to 6 members (or participate individually)
3. Develop a working prototype or functional proof-of-concept during the hackathon period
4. Submit the project via the official submission platform (e.g. Devpost) before the deadline, including all required documentation and a demo video.

Submission requirements

• A working prototype or functional proof-of-concept (software, hardware, or hybrid solution) demonstrating clear functionality, not just slides.
• Project description including: problem statement, solution overview, target users or industry, and why this solution matters for Europe.
• Technical details including: architecture overview, technologies, frameworks, and tools used, and AI models, datasets, or APIs (if applicable).
• Repository or access link (e.g., GitHub, GitLab) or a live demo link if available.
• Short demo video (2–3 minutes) explaining the problem, solution, and demo (screen recording or live demonstration is sufficient).
• Optional but encouraged: Business or deployment considerations, ethical, regulatory, or sustainability considerations, and potential next steps after the hackathon.
• All submitted work must be created during the hackathon period. Use of open-source libraries, APIs, frameworks, and publicly available datasets is allowed, provided they are properly disclosed. Pre-existing code or projects must be clearly identified and may only be used as a foundation, not as a complete solution.

Judging criteria

• Problem Relevance & Impact: How well does the solution address a real, clearly defined problem? Assessment of relevance to industry, society, or public sector needs, and potential impact if implemented at scale.
• Technical Excellence & Feasibility: How strong is the technical implementation? Includes architecture, data usage, AI/ML soundness (if applicable), robustness, and realistic potential for building, deployment, and maintenance beyond the hackathon.
• Innovation & Originality: How novel is the idea or approach? Evaluation of originality, creative use of technology, and whether the solution goes beyond standard or expected implementations.
• Practical Applicability & Scalability: Can the solution be applied in real-world environments? Focus on usability, scalability, integration potential, and suitability for enterprise, startup, or public-sector deployment.
• Presentation & Communication: How clearly and convincingly is the solution presented? Assessment of clarity of explanation, demo quality, storytelling, and the team’s ability to communicate technical and business value effectively.

Resources

• Full Rules
• Email Hackathon Manager