From June 19 to 21, 2026, the Colosseum Theater in Essen will become a meeting point for creative minds, tech talent, and visionaries: the “AI for Good Hackathon” invites students, developers, and founders from the University of Duisburg-Essen, the Ruhr University Bochum, and the TU Dortmund University to jointly develop innovative AI solutions for socially relevant challenges.

The focus lies on themes such as sustainability, inclusion, and societal impact. Over three intensive days, interdisciplinary teams will work on ideas and prototypes demonstrating how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly and effectively.

The hackathon is organized by Place Beyond Bytes at the University of Duisburg-Essen in cooperation with the BRYCK Startup Alliance and combines technological innovation with entrepreneurial thinking and social responsibility.

Participants benefit from support by experienced mentors from research, industry, and the startup ecosystem. They also receive valuable feedback on their projects and present their results to a jury of investors, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. In addition, attractive prizes and access to the BRYCK startup ecosystem and regional partner networks are offered.

The hackathon is open both to experienced developers and beginners. Whether as part of a team or individually, all interested participants are welcome. Participation is free of charge.

Event details:

• Date: June 19–21, 2026
• Location: Colosseum Theater Essen, Altendorfer Straße 1, 45127 Essen

Schedule:

• Friday, June 19: 4:00–9:00 p.m. (kick-off)
• Saturday, June 20: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, June 21: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Under the motto “Code, Coffee and AI that truly matters,” the focus is not on the perfect pitch, but on collaboratively developing ideas with real societal impact.