Intense development across value chains and disciplines

On November 11-12, 2024, BlueGreen Innovation Challenge (BIC) hackathon for 2024 took place at VIA University College in Horsens. Over 60 participants, organized into 7 teams, worked on developing innovative solutions to pressing challenges in water management, climate adaptation, and sustainability.

Each team was composed of problem owners, representatives from the value chain, relevant experts, and selected students, creating diverse groups with a wide range of expertise. With approximately 35 companies, utility providers, and public organizations participating. Which includet both established players and startups, the hackathon provided a unique platform for intensive collaboration and knowledge sharing. Solutions were pitched to a competent jury, and the event also planted seeds for future collaboration and networking.

Everyone wins when sustainability wins

After two exciting days, three teams were crowned the winners for their achievements in three respective categories:

‘Best pitch’

The team presented a solution for optimizing water management in urban areas, improving water quality while reducing resource consumption. Their project focused on reusing wastewater from residential buildings by filtering it and repurposing it for irrigation and toilet flushing, thereby conserving drinking water resources. The project also addressed flood risks by incorporating a system to manage fluctuating rainwater volumes.

The winners were recognized for their clear and fact-based pitch. The jury highlighted their ability to effectively convey a precise problem statement supported by hard facts:

It’s very important to have a clear problem statement, and we think they were the ones who brought strong facts to the table.

‘Best idea’

This team worked on repurposing wastewater for agricultural use to optimize water consumption in production. Their project focused on filtering and monitoring water quality using sensors and innovative technologies. It also involved robots to map drainage pipes in fields, optimizing water flow and storing water underground for winter use.

The jury praised the team for presenting an idea that not only made sense but also included data to avoid potential conflicts:

Who could inspire us? There was one team who made an extra effort; they came up with data that can make people not point fingers at each other.

‘Best cooperation’

This team focused on collaboration across multiple value chain actors to develop an integrated solution for climate adaptation in agriculture and water management. Their project involved treated wastewater as an alternative to freshwater and established a network of actors working together to ensure local water supply and resource reuse. The collaboration between farmers, local authorities, and industrial players aimed to reduce costs and create sustainable water management solutions for agriculture.

The jury emphasized the team’s strong cooperation and continuous support for one another, fostering a strong team spirit. Their international perspective was also a deciding factor, as they explored opportunities beyond national borders:

You have worked efficiently and strongly together. And our choice was also a group with an international scope.

In addition to the three winners, the other pitches also showcased strong concepts and creative, innovative solutions. These ranged from digital platforms using IoT sensors to monitor and optimize water usage in agriculture and industry to solutions for collecting and reusing rainwater in urban areas. Many teams focused on sustainability and resource conservation, including methods for reusing wastewater in industrial processes and systems for improving water management in both urban and rural areas.

Watch the event video for a glimpse of the highlights and the solutions developed during the hackathon.

Collaboration creates results

The BlueGreen Innovation Challenge 2024 hackathon was organized in collaboration with Clean, VIA University College, Region Midtjylland, and Insero. It was co-financed by the European Union and the Danish Board of Business Development.

The hackathon brought together actors across the entire value chain to foster collaboration and innovation. By involving companies, experts, and students, it created a unique platform for networking and knowledge sharing that extended far beyond the two-day event.

‘Thank you’

We would like to thank all participants, organizers, and partners for making this hackathon a great success. The innovative ideas and solutions presented bring us one step closer to a more sustainable future.