ISE Hackathon

The ISE Hackathon returns

After the successful first edition in 2025, we are excited to host the second ISE Hackathon at ISE 2026.

Over two days, teams of students will once again collaborate intensively at Fira de Barcelona to tackle real-world challenges in the fields of sustainability, innovation, and cybersecurity. Working alongside professionals from education and across industries, participants will develop fresh ideas and solutions, bringing innovation to life on the ISE show floor.

How it works

In the run-up to the show, the students will undergo a pre-selection assessment to identify their unique perspectives and skill sets. Sixty elite students will be chosen to take part in the ISE Hackathon.

The Hackathon will begin at 08:00 on Thursday 5 February and work will be completed by midday on Friday 6 February. There will be a series of project presentations starting at 12:00 on the Pitching Stage in Congress Square, followed by an Awards Ceremony at 15:00 where the winning projects and teams will be announced.

Participating universities

• ESADE
• Universitat Pompeu Fabra
• Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
• La Salle
• EU Business School
• Bocconi University
• HEC - Paris
• CEA CAPA
• EAE
• IESE
• CETT
• EADA
• University of Bath
• St Gallen

Intensive working

During ISE 2026 we will once again be hosting top university students, industry experts and associations at the ISE 2026 Hackathon. 

After a pre-selection assessment to identify their unique perspectives and skill sets, around 60 elite students will be chosen.

For 48 hours the student participants will engage in rapid networking, collaboration, brainstorming, and innovation engineering to solve a business challenge.

Working alongside seasoned professionals from across education and a range of industries, they will apply their formidable intellect, talent, creativity and collective brainpower to drive solutions.

The Hackathon culminates in project presentations on the Innovation Park Stage, followed by an awards ceremony for the winning solutions.

Real-life solutions

Taking place in the VIP area off Hall 8, the ISE Hackathon comprises three tracks of challenges, identified by companies that are looking for smart international students to find innovative solutions to real-life business problems. Students have a great opportunity to connect and showcase their talent to industry leaders.

The ISE Hackathon represents a unique and exclusive opportunity to engage the hearts and minds of all the partners, participants, companies, educational institutions and associations involved in business innovation.

This is an intense and focused impact opportunity whose reach goes beyond the walls and halls of ISE and into ideas that can shape the future.

Interested in taking part?

Register your interest for the ISE 2026 Hackathon by November 2025

Register your interest

 

 

HACKATHON TRACK SPONSORS

Cybersecurity Track Sponsor

HIKVISION

Sustainability Track Sponsor

 

Philips

Innovation Track Sponsor

Culture&Creativity

ISE 2026 PARTNERS