Taking place on 19–20 October as part of the E³UDRES² Autumn Summit 2026, the E³UDRES² Hackathon “From Challenges to Possibilities: What Else?” will bring students together to rethink familiar materials, places and resources through new perspectives. The idea behind the Hackathon starts with one simple question: What else is possible?
Participants will work in international and interdisciplinary teams on three real-world challenges brought forward by Latvian organisations. Together with Latvijas Finieris, students will explore what new applications could be created for thick birch plywood. The Sigulda Bobsleigh and Luge Track will challenge teams to imagine how an iconic winter sports venue could take on new roles throughout the year. ZAAO, meanwhile, will invite participants to discover how textile waste could become a resource for something new.
Different challenges require different perspectives – and that is where the E³UDRES² community comes in.
Students from different countries and fields of study will bring their experiences, knowledge and ways of thinking into the same teams. Instead of approaching the challenges from one discipline alone, participants will be encouraged to question assumptions, connect unexpected ideas and learn from one another.
Even the Hackathon locations tell a story of transformation.
The journey will begin at the University of Latvia Botanical Garden, where nature offers a living example of adaptation and regeneration. It will then continue at Viskaļi, a creative community that has transformed a former urban building into a place where people, disciplines and ideas meet.
Two unconventional locations. Three real-world challenges. An international community of problem-solvers. And one question connecting them all: What else is possible?
The E³UDRES² Hackathon 2026 is organised by Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences as part of the E³UDRES² Autumn Summit 2026.
Key facts:
Online kick-off: 5 October 2026
Hackathon: 19–20 October 2026
Location: Riga, Latvia – University of Latvia Botanical Garden & Viskalļi
Language: English
More information: What else? Hackathon 2026
