DUTh Hackathon, a three-day program dedicated to generating ideas and developing functional prototypes aimed at shaping the University of Tomorrow at Democritus University of Thrace (DUTh) in Xanthi, was successfully completed on Sunday, November 30.

The program attracted significant interest from students, researchers, faculty members, university administrative staff, and professionals from the innovation ecosystem, confirming the role of open innovation as a catalyst for ideas and prototypes with substantial impact on education, entrepreneurship, university life, research, and the institution’s extroversion.

The program was implemented by DUTh Innovation Hub, in collaboration with Mantis Beyond Innovation, serving as the Innovation Entity responsible for incubating the generated ideas and prototypes.

Over the course of the 48-hour Hackathon, more than 18 teams developed and refined their solutions, creating functional prototypes through intensive mentoring and thematic workshops led by specialized experts.

A few words about the winning teams

In the category of Innovative Ideas from Students, first prize was awarded to the Re-Hub team, for developing a digital platform that bridges the gap between students and faculty members, facilitating the creation of collaborations for undergraduate theses, master’s dissertations, and doctoral research.

Following a tie, second place was jointly awarded to:
• CHOS, with EcoDash, a tool for early-stage evaluation of green ideas, and
• DUTh Young Minds, with DUTh Future Minds, a platform that connects schools with DUTh through organized innovation challenges.

In the Researchers and Academic Staff Innovative Ideas Category, first prize was awarded to Studentable, a digital platform supporting students in crisis or vulnerability. Through anonymous assessment and AI risk scoring, it connects students directly to the appropriate support framework.

Second place went to Extra Natura, which developed a mobile bio-extraction unit that transforms DUTh’s organic waste into high-value bioactive components, effectively applying the principles of the circular economy across university facilities.

In the Functional Prototypes Category, first prize was awarded to PractiPal, an advanced AI chatbot that answers student questions related to internships 24/7, reducing the workload of administrators and simplifying the information process.

Second place went to InText, an AI-driven tool that supports universities in producing unbiased, consistent, and inclusive written content by automating the editing of academic and administrative documents.

Awards and development opportunities

As recognition of their effort and the quality of their proposals, the winning teams in the Innovative Ideas categories will have the opportunity to attend an international scientific conference on innovation, with participation expenses covered for team representatives.

The winning team in Functional Prototypes category will have the opportunity to have its functional prototype evaluated for potential co-development and co-investment with Mantis Beyond Innovation.

Statements

Maria Michalopoulou, Member of the DUTh Governing Council, Head of the DUTh Innovation Hub, and Professor at the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, stated:
“The University of Tomorrow is one that understands the needs and concerns of its students and prepares them for what lies ahead. A university open to challenges, socially sensitive, and capable of connecting its members not only with the region but also with Europe and the rest of the world.”

Georgios Broufas, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation, Professor at the Department of Agricultural Development, and Scientific Chair of the project, emphasized:
“Such initiatives are particularly important because they contribute to a shift in culture and mindset within the DUTh student community, enhancing their skills and effectively preparing them for their future professional steps.”

Christos Nikoloudis, Founder & CEO of Mantis Beyond Innovation, noted:
“The DUTh Hackathon showcased remarkable talent and mature ideas. As an innovation partner, we support activities that strengthen entrepreneurship and innovation and harness the power of data for practical solutions with broad impact, both in research and business sector.”

The program concluded on an exceptionally positive note, establishing strong foundations for future open-innovation initiatives at Democritus University of Thrace. The high level of participation and the outstanding quality of the proposals highlight the dynamic growth of entrepreneurship and innovation in the Thrace region, fostering a fertile environment for the next generation of students, researchers, and young entrepreneurs.

This project is implemented under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0” with funding from the European Union – NextGenerationEU.