The ALBA Synchrotron and the UAB Research Park (PRUAB) have joined forces to organize an exciting hackathon aimed at promoting innovation in strategic sectors such as water, plastics, and energy. This collaborative event will bring together researchers, students, and industry professionals to address real-world challenges using advanced synchrotron light techniques at state-of-the-art research facilities.

A hackathon is a scientific-technological competition in which participants must solve a challenge (assigned by collaborating companies in this case) with innovative and feasible solutions.

But this hackathon is special because the challenges proposed by the companies will be studied and those winning solutions will be implemented for free at ALBA, after the corresponding feasibility studies.

This event is a great opportunity for companies with R&D&I challenges, as they can obtain "out of the box" solutions and recruit young talent, while making use of the synchrotron light techniques generated by the particle accelerator!

On the other hand, students can demonstrate the value of their ideas and connect with major companies in the water, polymer, and energy sectors, as well as receive training in synchrotron light techniques.

The event will be in Spanish

Do you want to be part of the big event taking place at our ALBA facilities on October 16th and 17th, 2025?

You still have the chance to participate as a collaborating company in the ALBA hackathon.

You provide the challenge, we provide the synchrotron techniques, and the students provide the knowledge.

It's the perfect combo to boost networking among companies and attract young talent.

What challenges are we looking for?

We are looking for challenges in energy, polymers, and water.

To propose a challenge, simply send us an email to the Industrial Office (industrialoffice@cells.es) with the subject: "ALBA Hackathon - Your Company".

If your company proposes the challenge, it will receive a free study at ALBA of the winning solution.

What if my company is late to propose a challenge?

We believe it may still interest you! Participating as a collaborator in the hackathon means:

1. Networking among companies and generating synergies in a unique environment like a synchrotron.

2. Providing mentors.

3. Accessing participants' CVs.

4. Having a 15-minute space per company to introduce yourself to the students, other companies, and promote your latest projects.

5. Participating as a jury member and in the awards ceremony.

6. Appearing in all event promotions (through logos and advertising) and in the press release.

* Participants, upon registering for the contest, agree to share their CVs with the collaborating companies.

** The solutions will be fully shared once the company that set the challenge has conducted the study of the proposal at ALBA.

Do you want to participate in the contest? Soon we will release all the information on how to participate, so stay tuned.

We can tell you that it is open to vocational training students, undergraduates, master's students, doctoral candidates, post-docs... And also to employed or unemployed people who want to contribute multidisciplinary skills.

Start preparing your CV, because we will ask for it!