From each of the five participating universities – TU Darmstadt, UPC, ULisboa, PoliTo, and WUST – four to five students will take part. On site, they will form mixed teams to foster intercultural collaboration and co-develop digital solutions or platforms that strengthen the connection between local and international students.

Instead of prize money, travel expenses will be covered. The focus is on sustainable impact: new friendships, long-term networks, and concrete ideas to enhance student mobility. In addition to creative collaboration, the format also offers participants the opportunity to develop their skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and project design. The hackathon projects are expected to inspire further initiatives within the alliance.

The project spans six months – from planning in November and participant selection in January to the three-day hackathon in April, followed by an evaluation phase in May. Barcelona was deliberately chosen as the host city for its excellent international accessibility, inspiring atmosphere, and strong visibility for Unite!.

„Innovation becomes truly powerful when people from different backgrounds come together. With the Solve&Unite! Hackathon, we want to empower students from across Europe to design digital solutions that make international study experiences more inclusive, supportive, and truly connected“, according to Kateryna Stepaniuk, student at TU Darmstadt and coordinator of the Seed Fund project..

The hackathon is organized by a committed student team from all five universities. Among them are Kateryna Stepaniuk (TU Darmstadt), Jose Daniel Vasquez (UPC), Anna Angelone (PoliTo), Dmitrii Zaev and Ruben Matos (ULisboa), and Maksymilian Wojnowski (WUST).

Contact for enquiries: seedfund@unite-university.eu

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