Liberec Ideathon 2026

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

We are currently at full capacity in both categories. Now we register teams on the waiting list only (this does not apply to competitors who register as additional members of an already registered team—in that case, please register as soon as possible). 

We will confirm the participation of alternates in the competition on Monday, April 13.

Essential information: 

When: 16-17 April 2026 

Where: Cultural Centre Vratislavice 101010 + IGI Association Centre 

Address: Nad Školou 1675, Liberec 30 (maps.google.cz) 

Schedule: 

Thursday, April 16, 2026

➡️ 12:00 Doors open

➡️ 12:30 Opening

➡️ 13:00 Real start, briefing on the competition topics and time to think

➡️ 14:00 Roundtables with challengers and brainstorming

➡️ 15:00 Deep work on projects and mentoring

➡️ 21:45 Moving to the IGI Centre, Vratislavice

Friday, April 17, 2026 

➡️ 07:45 Moving back to the main hall Vratislavice 101010

➡️ 08:00 Deep work on projects and mentoring

➡️ 12:00 Finalizing projects, presentations, and project sheets

➡️ 13:00 Presentations of your solutions to the jury

➡️ 14:30 Jury deliberation

➡️ 15:30 Announcement of winners

➡️ 16:00 End

 During these two days we will provide dinner, a late-night pizza break, breakfast, and lunch.

Categories: 

➡️ High School Students = 2-4 member teams composed of students studying at a hight school in the Liberec Region, or students studying at a high school outside the Liberec Region but with permanent residence in the Liberec Region.

➡️ Higher Vocational School & University Students = 2-4 member teams composed of students studying at a higher vocational school or university in the Liberec Region, or students studying outside the Liberec Region but with permanent residence in the Liberec Region. 

Entry fee: participation in the event is free of charge.

Prize Money: 120 000 CZK distributed among the best teams in both categories. 

Registration: Open from March 16, 2026 to April 10, 2026 or until the capacity is reached. 

Organizers: The Regional Development Agency in cooperation with the Liberec Region and CzechInvest Agency.

Main partners: City of Liberec, City of Jablonec nad Nisou, Technical University of Liberec, Bohemia Interactive.

Contact details: Tereza Suchomelová (communication with participants), e-mail: t.suchomelova@arr-nisa.cz; Adam Soltan (contact for international students), e-mail: a.soltan@arr-nisa.cz.

Which challenges can you choose from this year? 

The list of topics is only indicative - you'll be given a specific brief, which will tell you exactly what each challenge will cover, on the spot after the competition has started. 

✅ Topic 1: Riding the Wave of Health

Ideal for students interested in healthy lifestyles, psychology, education, and social topics. Creative thinkers, service designers, and technology-oriented students will also find plenty of room to contribute.
Challenger: Liberec Region.

✅ Topic 2: A Place That Comes Alive

This challenge may appeal to creative minds, community enthusiasts, marketers, event organisers, and anyone who enjoys working with people, culture, and public space. Service designers and tech-oriented students are also very welcome.
Challenger: City of Liberec – Linserka Cultural and Creative Centre.

✅ Topic 3: The City in Transformation

A great fit for students interested in cities, public space, marketing, culture, tourism, or community engagement. Both creative thinkers and strategic minds will find room to develop ideas and concepts here.
Challenger: City of Jablonec nad Nisou.

✅ Challenge 4: Direction: Future

A strong choice for technology-oriented students, innovators, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in education, career development, or new digital approaches with social impact.
Challenger: Technical University of Liberec.

You did not find yourself among the mentioned fields? Never mind! Student teams with any major and combinations of majors can apply. Creativity and a desire to solve a problem are crucial - they know no disciplinary boundaries! Plus, we know that the best solutions sometimes come from the places we would least expect.

Why join? Take a look at the cool atmosphere of last year's Ideathon!

What will be the course of the competition? 

Confirm your participation in the Ideathon no later than Friday 10 April at the link above. You can compete in two categories: one for high school students and the other for higher vocational school & university students in the Liberec Region or studying outside the Liberec Region, but provided you have permanent residence in the Liberec Region.
What you need is a team of 2-4 members (we recommend a team of four - more heads know more), original ideas and a laptop to work on. The number of contestants is limited to 60, so don't hesitate to register. 

On the first day of the competition, the teams will meet for an introductory presentation. During this, the topic owners will provide background information on their challenges and the teams will choose a topic to tackle over the next 24 hours. Then the phase where teams develop solutions to their challenges will start. During the first and second days, both the sponsors and expert mentors will be available to you and your teammates. You can book an appointment with them online at any time during the competition.  

Which is the right way to win? 

Don't overdo it with the preparation, you will get the specific topic assignments and all the data when the competition starts on site. Only then will you find out the right way to win. The expert jury will focus on: 

✅ Originality and complexity of the solution 

✅ Potential for feasibility and sustainability 

✅ Form and execution of the final presentation 

Become this year’s winner!