University
Community
International Students
Studies
Research and Innovation
For Business
Faculties
Back
  • University
  • News and events
  • "The Rethinking Hardware 2.0" hackathon attracted a large group of enthusiasts and business to create innovative solutions

"The Rethinking Hardware 2.0" hackathon attracted a large group of enthusiasts and business to create innovative solutions

April 5, 2023

Can a world-improving idea be born in less than three days? Participants of the "Rethinking Hardware 2.0" hackathon tried to answer this question. Over the weekend, students, start-ups, hardware enthusiasts, and engineers worked on creating product prototypes at the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) Creativity and Innovation Centre "LinkMenų fabrikas". During the three-day hackathon, they aimed to develop or direct their technologies towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

"The second edition of the "Rethinking Hardware 2.0" hackathon, which we co-organize with the "Bridgio Tech Accelerator", attracted almost twice as many participants as its first edition. Therefore, we are pleased to see that the community of creators, engineering enthusiasts, business, and academia in Lithuania actively contributes to the search for solutions to the challenges of the modern world," says Dr Lina Pečiūrė, director of the Creativity and Innovation Centre "LinkMenų fabrikas" at VILNIUS TECH.

"The "Rethinking Hardware 2.0" hackathon was a fruitful experience for us at "Bridgio". The collaboration between business and academia proved to be immensely valuable as we were able to bring together diverse perspectives, skill sets, and expertise to tackle real-world challenges. Working closely with talented students and researchers allowed us to ignite the spark to start developing innovative solutions that we believe will one day see the light of day as real products. This kind of collaboration helps bridge the gap between theory and practice and fosters a culture of innovation that is vital for driving progress in the industry," says Leonid Gasan, COO and partner of "Bridgio Tech Accelerator".

Three days dedicated to solving sustainability challenges

During the "Rethinking Hardware 2.0" hackathon, participants were challenged to create product prototypes that would address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and impact-creating technologies. The main themes of the hackathon in which participants addressed problems were technical equipment solutions for sustainable agriculture (SDG2); accessible and sustainable energy solutions (SDG7); technical equipment solutions for sustainable cities (SDG11), sustainable transportation, and sustainable habitats.

Teams, with the help of mentors, were ale to use the facilities of VILNIUS TECH's "LinkMenų fabrikas" – 3D printing, electronics, wood, and metal workshops. Before the weekend challenge began, participants actively consulted with hackathon mentors – business representatives and specialists – to refine their prototype ideas and address problems. Short learning and mentoring sessions took place during the hackathon.

Winners of the innovation race

According to L. Pečiūrė, during the hackathon, participants came up with various solutions, from prototypes of sustainable mobility tools to concepts of robots that can clean sand or snow.

During the hackathon's final event on Sunday, 16 teams presented their prototypes. The jury, consisting of members from the business and academic communities, evaluated the participants' results based on criteria such as innovation, technical implementation, functionality, business idea, sustainability, and more.

After listening to all the presentations and getting familiar with all the prototypes, it was revealed that the first place was won by a team called "GFT Solutions," whose members are VILNIUS TECH bachelor's students Taira Misiūnienė and Giedrius Misiūnas. They presented a prototype of an automatic waste recycling and sorting device. This team, among other additional prizes, won the 1500 euro cash main prize established by the company "Gurtam."

The second place was won by the team from "AMI tech," which presented a smart camera for livestock monitoring. The third-place winners were the team "ACES," whose prototype was a concept of a vibration-based autonomous robot for beach cleaning. The winning team and the remaining participants were awarded prizes established by partners and sponsors.

"By bringing together students, experts from the world of science and business, the "Rethinking Hardware 2.0" hackathon was an excellent example of how collaboration promotes innovation. The solutions created during this event have the potential not only to change industrial sectors but also to have a positive impact on society," says Dr Lina Pečiūrė, Director of the VILNIUS TECH Creativity and Innovation Centre "LinkMenų fabrikas."

Hackathon partners and sponsors include the "European Bank for Reconstruction and Development," "Ignitis Group," "OneSoil," "Manufacturing Innovation Valley," "EPAM," and "Gurtam." Educational partners – "HubSpot" and ATHENA European University. Technical partners of the hackathon are "Promwad Electronics," "Lemona electronics," "Softeq," and "Arrow Electronics." The hackathon community is created by "Tech Zity," "Hardware Ecosystem," and "Technarium." Participants were supported by "Kavos draugas," "Pergalė," and "RedBull."
 

Galerija

Related news

Integration week programmes for first-year international students
Integration week programmes for first-year international students
As you begin your new studies, it’s important to get to know the university from the very first days—its facilities, laboratories, and equipment, as well as the key people you can turn to for help when needed. That’s why we invite all first-year students to Orientation Week, during which you’ll have the opportunity to get to know your faculties. During the first week of September, new students can look forward not only to tours of the faculties but also to visits to VILNIUS TECH partner companies, meetings and discussions with professionals in their fields, an introduction to the academic process, and other useful information. You'll find the programmes here: Antanas Gustaičio Aviation Institute. Faculty of Environmental Engineering. Faculty of Architecture. Faculty of Electronics. Faculty of Fundamental Sciences. Faculty of Creative Industries. Faculty of Mechanics. Faculty of Civil Engineering. Faculty of Transportation Engineering. Faculty of Business Administration. We will be publishing the programme for the Lithuanian Academy of Seafaring shortly. We would like to remind you that this year’s Start of the Academic Year celebration will take place on 1 September, from 11.00 am, in the courtyard at 11 Saulėtekio Avenue (opposite the Main Building). In the evening, we invite you to join us for a lively celebration at the VILNIUS TECH CREATORS’ FEST. You can find more information about the event here.
More
For first-year students: essential information and tips about the university's IT systems
For first-year students: essential information and tips about the university's IT systems
Even before your studies begin, it is completely understandable that you might have various technical questions: how do I log in to VILNIUS TECH systems? Do I need to bring my own laptop to classes? Where can I print my notes, and where do I find my grades? To help you get the hang of things more easily, we are sharing some tips and other important information about IT services and systems that can save a newcomer a lot of time in the future. Don’t forget! The most important information is on mano.vilniustech.lt Once registered on mano.vilniustech.lt, you will be able to use your personal university email, connect to the university's internal network and Wi-Fi, and find a list of electronic services provided by the VILNIUS TECH library and other departments. In the system, you will also find information about your study programme, lecturers' contact details, and a lot of other useful information for your studies. After logging in, you will be able to check your lecture and exam schedules, midterm results, and, during the exam session, your final grades. Here, you can also submit requests, order certificates, find orders from the Rector and the Dean, view your tuition fee receipts, access study quality surveys, and find other important things. While you're at it, don't forget to take a look at the university's event calendar and news section. Here, you will find not only the latest achievements of our scientists and inspiring stories but also invitations to participate in events and programmes that will be beneficial to your studies and future career. Check your university email A personal email inbox is created for every student: firstname.lastname@stud.vilniustech.lt. You can access your email at https://outlook.office.com. Make sure to check your email inbox regularly – this is where you will receive the most important university and study-related information, as well as messages from the Dean's office. You will also use it to communicate with your lecturers. Without this habit, students often miss out on great opportunities to participate in mentorship programmes, conferences, training sessions, or other useful events. Two-factor authentication – for your security To ensure successful and secure logins, you will need to set up two-factor authentication (2FA, MFA). You can find more information at itsc.vilniustech.lt. Free and secure Wi-Fi connection The eduroam Wi-Fi network operates across the university. Your Wi-Fi username is your student ID number@vilniustech.lt, and the password is your VILNIUS TECH password. VILNIUS TECH is part of EDUROAM, a unified wireless network project for European academic institutions. This means you can use the same username and password to connect to Wi-Fi at other universities in Lithuania and across Europe. You can find out more about this service on the website itsc.vilniustech.lt. Use computer classrooms and software During your studies, you will need to log in to the computers in the classrooms. Use the same login credentials as for all other VILNIUS TECH IT services: the username is your student ID number, and the password is your VILNIUS TECH password. Most e-services are only accessible from the VILNIUS TECH network, which is why you are provided with secure VPN access from non-university networks (like your home, office, etc.). You do not need to activate it separately. You can find more detailed information here. Moodle – your virtual study environment To make communication between lecturers and students easier, every lecturer has a course for each study subject in the Moodle environment (moodle.vilniustech.lt). Here you will find lecturers' contacts, lecture notes, your assignment grades, and other important information. Print, copy, scan A printing service is available at the university. Log in with your VILNIUS TECH password at print.vilniustech.lt, top up your personal account, and you will be able to upload the files you want to print in PDF, WORD, or EXCEL formats, and print them in A4 or A3 sizes. You can top up your account via PayPal or at the library's customer service desk. You will find other useful information for the start of your studies in the First-Year Student Guide.
More