JOIST Innovation Park, University of Thessaly, European Digital Innovation Hub (EKPSK) Smart Attica, EKPSK Synerginn, EKPSK DigiAgriFood, consortium JUSTReDI and the Special Account for Research Funds (SRA) of the University of the Aegean organize an open Innovation Marathon (Hackathon) in the framework of the Innovent Forum 2025.  The Innovation Marathon will take place on Saturday 15 February 2025, at JOIST Innovation Park in Larissa (welcoming of the teams and mentoring) and at the University of Thessaly (presentation of proposals and award ceremony).  

The aim of Hackathon is to promote, network and reward ideas, proposals and applications that contribute to the innovative solution of issues related to the themes of agriculture, nutrition, energy and the environment, through the mobilization of the creative human capital of universities, research centres and businesses.  

Hackathon is open to project teams that will develop a proposal related to one of the following challenges – themes:  

 

Α. Energy and Environment  

In the context of the challenge of climate change and the pursuit of the development of mitigation and adaptation plans and actions, climate neutrality is promoted, linked to the adoption of Renewable Energy Sources, and enhances the energy independence of the country and the production system. This section calls for the development of innovative solutions that promote the carbonization of the economy, and that solve critical problems in the fields of energy and environmental improvement. Specifically:  

 

1. Energy saving 

• Indicatively, innovative ideas and solutions aimed at:  

• Improving energy efficiency,  

• Improving energy efficiency and improving energy efficiency,  

• The dissemination of energy efficiency, the diffusion of energy efficiency, the diffusion of energy efficiency, and the storage of energy,  

• Creating energy communities  

• Improved and carbonised energy networks with economic and/or energy benefits  

• The use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to manage energy supply and demand more efficiently,  

• New materials for energy savings and efficiency.  

• Energy production from bioenergy crops, using agro-photovoltaics, and/or from agricultural waste.  

• Innovation in the production and efficient use of biomethane and/or bio-hydrogen.  

• Shielding regions from the effects of climate change  

• Highlighting innovative ideas and solutions aimed at:  

• Harnessing digital technologies and artificial intelligence to meet the challenges of climate change. 

 

Β. The agri-food sector in the context of the green and digital transition.  

1. Rational management and protection of natural resources in agricultural production 

Promoting innovative ideas and solutions aimed at:  

• Reducing inputs in production systems 

• Reducing the environmental footprint of production systems  

• To reduce the impact of production systems on the reduction of inputs in the production process, reducing the environmental impact of production systems 

• More effective protection of biodiversity 

• The application of circular economy principles in the agri-food and food sector (e.g., innovative solutions for recycling food waste, development of products from food residues to promote sustainability)  

• Reducing the environmental footprint of food production and consumption processes 

• The development of successful agro-ecological methods 

• Enhancing the use of local and seasonal products to reduce carbon emissions by reducing the environmental footprint of tourism businesses, integrating sustainable practices in nutrition and strengthening the local economy through the use of local products 

• The development of digital training applications and collaborative networks for the exchange of data and best practices to prevent and address the impacts of climate change on crop and livestock production 

• The shift from climate-neutral agriculture to climate-positive agriculture 

 

2.Agrologistics 4.0  

• In the analysis and monitoring of the energy footprint at all stages of the supply chain  

• To enhance transparency in the food supply chain and reduce food waste 

• Developing technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the production chain (from the primary sector to the shelf) 

• Innovative processing issues, such as the development of active packaging/smart packaging solutions 

• Systems interoperability in agri-food  

 

3.Interoperability is a key challenge for enhancing digitization in the agri-food sector 

The existence of different systems, sensors, and applications that do not work together effectively makes it difficult to exchange data and improve production and logistics processes. Creating solutions that integrate data from different sources and provide easy-to-use tools for decision making can enhance collaboration between stakeholders and lead to more sustainable practices.  

• Indicatively, the following areas of ideas for the above-mentioned theme are mentioned, without excluding other ideas/areas  

• Open source applications that interconnect existing digital infrastructures and ensure real-time data exchange 

• APIs that allow the integration of data from farm management systems, IoT sensors and logistics systems 

• Cloud platforms that aggregate, analyse and present data from heterogeneous sources in a user-friendly environment 

• Open source applications that interconnect existing digital infrastructures and ensure real-time data exchange 

• APIs that enable the integration of data from farm management systems, IoT sensors and logistics systems 

• Cloud platforms that aggregate, analyse and present data from heterogeneous sources in a user-friendly environment 

4.Food Traceability with Blockchain  

Ensuring transparency and reliability in the food supply chain is critical to protect consumer health and enhance market confidence. The use of blockchain technology can provide immutable data capture, ensuring traceability of products from field to plate. The adoption of such systems will allow immediate access to information on the origin, processing and transport of products, while enhancing sustainability through the monitoring of environmental indicators such as carbon footprint.  

The following idea areas for the above-mentioned theme are indicative, without excluding other ideas/areas  

 

• Development of applications with QR codes that provide consumers with information on the origin and route of food  

• Use of IoT devices to automatically record data (e.g., temperature, humidity) at critical stages of the supply chain 

• Creating open blockchain platforms for collaboration between farmers, processors and transporters 

• Data analysis tools to predict potential risks in the supply chain 

5.Sustainable Water Management  

Sustainable water management is vital for agri-food, as the sector is one of the world’s largest consumers of water. Inefficient use of water resources leads to waste, environmental degradation and reduced production efficiency. Modern technologies can help to optimise water management, allowing monitoring of use, forecasting needs and adapting to climate change.  

The following areas of ideas for the above-mentioned theme are indicative, without excluding other ideas/areas  

• IoT applications to collect data from humidity sensors, water levels and climate conditions 

• AI platforms for predicting irrigation needs based on weather conditions and crop status 

• Automated irrigation systems that reduce water wastage through intelligent management 

• Analysis tools to integrate satellite data and information on agricultural practices to identify areas with low water use efficiency 

• Development of blockchain applications for transparency in the management and allocation of water resources in rural communities 

6.Applications of AI and Image Analysis in Agri-Food  

Artificial intelligence (AI) and image analysis are transforming agri-food, offering innovative solutions to improve production and reduce costs. From disease detection and crop health assessment to product grading, these technologies enable faster decision-making, reduce waste and increase efficiency. The integration of these tools helps farmers adapt to climate change and growing market needs.  

As an indication, the following idea areas for the above-mentioned theme are mentioned, without excluding other ideas/areas  

• Image analysis tools to identify crop problems such as diseases, pests or nutrient deficiencies 

• Use of drones or satellite data to map and assess the performance of agricultural land 

• AI systems to classify products by quality, size or colour, improving packaging and distribution 

• Crop yield prediction platforms based on a combination of imagery, climate and soil data 

• Solutions that incorporate real-time camera monitoring in greenhouses or warehouses to detect factors affecting production quality 

Other ideas/areas that can be applied to all of the above themes:  

Ideas/applications that leverage robotic applications and the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, digital twins, and augmented reality (XR), information systems and other applications from the field of new information and communication technologies.  

Ideas/applications related to technologies that facilitate the transition of agri-food sectors, public bodies and all actors that can contribute to addressing and managing important issues in the above-mentioned sectors brought about by the digital age and climate change.  

Working groups are invited to structure their proposals in relation to the challenge, focusing on one of the following areas: 

• Technological applications   

• Energy systems and management  

• Environment & Natural Resources  

• Food and Nutrition  

• Agricultural Production and Infrastructure  

• Agricultural Engineering  

Note: The above fields can be used in combination.  

The starting date for the submission of proposals is the date of publication of this notice, i.e. Tuesday 14 January 2025, and the closing date for the submission of proposals is Sunday 9 February 2025 until 12.00 a.m. The proposals may be submitted in combination.  

Proposals submitted by working groups should be submitted in pptx (PowerPoint) format, with a maximum of 12 slides. In addition, proposals may be accompanied by clarifications – annotations in Word text, up to 500 words. 

The proposals of the working groups should include the following sections:  

• Identification of need / definition of a need-based framework for action (3 slides) 

• Existing solutions (1 slide)  

• Proposal to the challenge (2-3 slides)  

• Budget – Budget (1 slide)  

• The working group (1 slide) (2-3 slides)  

• Expected results – Risk analysis (1-2 slides) 

Teams participating in the Innovation Marathon can consist of two (2) to five (5) people. Only natural persons aged 18 years or older are eligible to participate in the teams. The maximum number of teams participating in the Innovation Marathon is eight (8). In the event of entries exceeding the maximum number, the selected proposals will be evaluated by the competent committee on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out below, which will be used for the final ranking.  

Hackathon is addressed to teams that may consist of researchers or students (undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD) from one or more academic/research institutions, business executives, startupers or any interested party. A person may not participate in more than one group. The teams selected to participate in the Hackathon should have a physical presence at the organizing venues, JOIST Innovation Park in Larissa and at the University of Thessaly, Larissa (minimum one representative from each team). 

 

Each team will be asked – over a period of about 3 hours – to optimise the formatting of their idea, under the guidance of a dedicated mentor, depending on the focus area of each team. Upon completion of this task, each team will present its proposal to an Evaluation Committee, set up exclusively for this purpose and composed of academics, representatives of institutions and businesses. The presentation of the teams should be short and concise, with a maximum presentation time of 5 minutes.  

 

The criteria against which proposals will be evaluated include:  

• The characteristics of the working group.  

• The maturity of the proposal.  

• The relevance of the proposal in relation to the challenge.  

• The realism of the proposal (as a whole) and its constituent parts (objectives, budget, expected results).  

At the end of the evaluation, three prizes will be awarded to the top four proposals in the overall score:  

• First Place: a cash prize of €5,000 from the University of Thessaly & 5 sessions of business mentoring.  

• Second Place: a cash prize of 3.000€ from the University of Thessaly & business mentoring of 5 sessions.  

• Third Position: cash prize of 2.000€ from the University of Thessaly & business mentoring 5 sessions.  

• Fourth place: business mentoring 5 sessions & 2 free places in the Coworking Space of JOIST Innovation Park for 3 months & free subscription to JOIST Community for one year.