Business-Academia Hackathon 2026

Generative AI is transforming organizations, but successful implementation depends on more than technology. Companies face human, organizational, legal, and ethical challenges when adopting GenAI in real-world settings.

UZH.ai is hosting a two-day Business–Academia Hackathon to bring together students, researchers, companies, and industry mentors to develop practical, human-centered solutions to these challenges.

• 22nd - 23rd October 2026

• Bluelion, Zurich

• Challenge Submission: Partner companies from various sectors telecommunications, (e.g., finance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, etc.) will submit concrete business challenges related to genAI adoption (e.g., AI training, preserving critical thinking, automation burnout challenges, and technostress, personalizing customer service, optimizing document management, compliance, data protection and privacy, transparency, liability issues, risk management, approaches, etc.) “human-in-the-loop”
   
• Team Formation: Interdisciplinary teams of students (from computer science, data science, business, design, law, and social sciences) will be formed around these challenges.
   
• The Hackathon: Over two days, teams will work to develop prototype solutions. The event will be supported by mentors from both academia and industry, who will provide strategic guidance. The hackathon will conclude with team presentations to a jury of academic and industry experts.

Companies are invited to contribute challenges related to the human side of GenAI implementation, such as workforce upskilling, compliance, trust, critical thinking, human–AI collaboration, and the integration of AI into everyday workflows.

Partner organizations gain visibility within the UZH and partner ecosystem, engage in academic–industry exchange, receive input from mentors and researchers, and explore prototype solutions to pressing GenAI adoption challenges. The hackathon also offers access to highly talented potential future employees.

Flexible sponsorship packages are available, including opportunities to further develop promising prototypes after the event with matched coaching support.

Interested in submitting a challenge, becoming a sponsor, or learning more? We would be glad to hear from you.

We are looking for practitioners, researchers, and experts from industry, academia, policy, and related fields to mentor student teams during the hackathon.

Mentors will support teams as they move from an initial idea to a concrete prototype, concept, or strategy. This may include asking critical questions, sharing field experience, and helping participants navigate the practical realities of human–AI interaction in organizations.

The time commitment is light and the format is informal. If you have hands-on experience with generative AI, organizational change, team facilitation, or related topics, we would be happy to hear from you.

The hackathon is open to Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students from all disciplines who are interested in how generative AI is changing the way people work, decide, collaborate, and build trust.

No coding skills are required. We welcome students from fields including psychology, design, computer science, business, law, philosophy, economics, social sciences, and beyond.

Participants will work on real challenges contributed by leading organizations across sectors such as consulting, logistics, hospitality, telecommunications, and more. You can expect mentorship from industry and academic experts, prizes from the UZH.ai Hub and corporate partners, and opportunities to continue developing promising solutions after the event. In some cases, follow-up internships may also be possible.

Students can apply individually or as a team of four to seven people.

We encourage teams to form in advance, but individual applicants are also welcome. Because the challenges are interdisciplinary, teams should include people from different academic and professional backgrounds. Teams made up of only one discipline will not be accepted.

The official registration form will be available soon.

In the meantime, students can submit a pre-registration as an expression of interest. This helps us with planning, and pre-registered applicants will receive favorable consideration during the official selection process.

Student pre-registration form

The hackathon is initiated by UZH.ai and supported by: 

Data Innovation Alliance.
Digital Society Initiative of the University of Zurich 
Center for Leadership in the Future of Work

The full list of participating companies and mentors, and challenge descriptions will be published once the lineup is confirmed.

AI [at] uzh.ch