Greece‑Turkey Hackathon 2026 launches AI innovation competition

The second annual Greece‑Turkey Hackathon competition has opened for entries, focusing on artificial‑intelligence‑driven solutions. It is co‑organised by the Thermokitida Neofon Empirion (Athens Startup Incubator) and Turkey's Bilişim Vadisi, in cooperation with the foreign ministries of both countries, the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance & Artificial Intelligence and the Turkish Ministry of Industry & Technology.

The call targets young innovators aged 18‑35 – university students, entrepreneurs and researchers from Greece and Turkey – to develop AI applications in health and biotechnology, smart‑city resilience, sustainable agriculture, and personalised travel. Teams are selected by national panels, paired across borders into 20 mixed teams, and must submit proposals within five months.

Semi‑finals will take place in Athens on 26‑27 November 2026, selecting six teams for the final round. The final stage and award ceremony are scheduled for Istanbul on 3‑4 December 2026, with prize money of €20 000, €10 000 and €5 000 for the top three teams.