🚀 Are you passionate about food?
Join our hackathon, where we bridge the gap between science and business using design thinking methods to develop potential business solutions in the food and agriculture sectors. The hackathon aims to address real-world problems and create solutions that could be implemented in real life.
Over two exciting days, we will bring together students, startups, researchers, professionals and food enthusiasts to ideate, co-create, and prototype the future of food. Expect inspiring keynote, hands-on teamwork, mentor rounds with industry experts and plenty of networking opportunities.
EIT Food, Tartu Biotechnology Park, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge (METK), Food and Fermentation Technology Development Center (TFTAK), A. Le Coq and Estonian University of Life Sciences invite you to join our 3rd annual food hackathon – Hack the Future of Food!
📅 When? November 27-28, 2026
📍 Where? Alexela Loomelava, Narva road 2, Tartu
🌱 Why join?
🎁 Tackle critical food-related challenges
🧠 Hands-on experience solving real-life problems
🎨 Design thinking and pitch training
🎤 Inspirational speaker / industry experts as mentors
🌐 Networking with like-minded people
🏆 EIT Food & partner prizes (this list is growing):
💡 You can bring your own idea or choose a challenge defined by A. Le Coq, METK, TFTAK or Estonian University of Life Sciences.
More information about the challenges is available here: https://url-shortener.me/N5MQ
Agenda:
Day I – 27 November
11:40-12:00 Registration
12:00-12:45 Lunch
12:45-13:00 Welcome; introduction of the hackathon schedule & activities
13:00-13:35 Introduction/Teambuilding
13:35-14:30 Idea pitches, ideation and team formation
14:30-15:00 Coffee break
15:00-16:00 Design thinking training, Part I (Taavi Tamm/PRIA)
16:00-16:10 Stretching
16:10-17:45 Design thinking training, Part II (Taavi Tamm/PRIA)
17:45-18:15 Teamwork
18:15-19:00 Dinner
19:00-22:00 Teamwork
Day II – 28 November
09:00-09:30 Coffee break
9:30-9:40 Wrap-up of Day 1 and intro to Day 2, including presentation of awards and judging criteria
09:40-10:00 Keynote: Mary-Liis Kütt (ÄIO) "Future-Proofing Food: How Biotechnology Can Reshape What We Eat”
10:00-12:10 Teamwork /Mentor Rounds I
12:10-12:45 Pitching training (Vaido Mikheim/Startup Estonia
12:45-13:30 Lunch
13:30-15:00 Teamwork / Mentor rounds II
15:00-15:30 Coffee break
15:30-16:45 Teamwork
16:45-18:30 Pitching the ideas to the Jury /Jury feedback & Announcement of winners & Prizes
18:30 Closing of the hackathon
If you have any questions, please contact: maris@biopark.ee
