Hackathons in Europe create social impact solutions for healthier and more sustainable diets
Hack for Food Hack for Good is a series of Europeans hackathons organized and run with FEAST partner OpenDot, a Milan-based fab lab and hub of social innovation.
As part of the FEAST project, OpenDot acts as a facilitator of innovation and experimentation processes and has identified in the hackathon format the most effective way to identify novel solutions, starting from one or more "challenges".
The "hackathon" format comes from the computer-technology field: a short, timed, competitive event where teams of people engage and work together to find solutions to one or more "challenges," with a view to innovation and improvement.
Over the next three years, FEAST and OpenDot will be running a Hackathon in cities across Europe. The first event took place in May 2023 in Milan, Italy with further hackathons planned for London, Berlin, Stockholm and Kaunas. All of our events are focused on food systems where the city-specific Hackathon Challenge is identified with local partners and reflects the most pressing needs of local populations.
Why Hackathons?
Hackathons offer an exciting opportunity to work in a truly transdisciplinary environment, problem-solving, co-designing, and innovating. Nothing is ‘off the table’ in working together to create a winning concept. Whatever your background or interest, our hackathons experience represents both educational and professional opportunities. Plus the winning team will be able to receive support and mentorship from OpenDot to prototype and develop their concept.
Winning a hackathon requires creativity, the ability to innovate and think out-of-the-box, to communicate and collaborate and to be open to new ideas and novel ways of working. Hackathons experiences are dynamic, thought-provoking, and exciting.
Final event in Copenhagen
In March 2025, our Hack for Food, Hack for Good series concluded with a final event in Copenhagen. Organized by OpenDot, the event took place at Copenhagen Business School, co-organized by FEAST and BEACON projects. During the event, the young innovators and researchers, winners of the hackathons, presented some valuable and creative solutions that can help transform Europe’s food value chain into a more just, healthy, and sustainable system.
More information coming soon! Stay tuned!
