General details
EDIHs involved
Challenges
The company operates in the IT sector, focusing on developing innovative software solutions tailored to client needs. Its core activities include designing and implementing web and mobile applications. With an emphasis on innovation and digital skills, the company also supports initiatives that foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the IT community.
To stay competitive in a fast-changing tech landscape, the company recognised the need to improve interdisciplinary cooperation among programmers, testers, designers and project managers. One key challenge was the lack of opportunities for such teams to work together on real-world problems under time constraints.
With support from PDIH, the company organised a 48-hour hackathon: an intensive programming event for professionals. The initiative provided a collaborative space for solving practical software challenges.
Solutions
After initial discussions with the company, EDIH experts conducted an in-depth assessment of the organisation's digital maturity and innovation challenges. During this process, it became clear that the company, operating in the IT sector, faced difficulties in fostering effective collaboration between employees from different specialisations — such as programming, testing, graphic design, and project management — especially when working under time pressure on real-world projects. Furthermore, the company expressed the need for a structured yet creative environment where interdisciplinary teams could jointly address complex software development challenges and generate innovative, practical solutions.
Based on the results of the assessment, PDIH recognised the organisation of a 48-hour hackathon as the most suitable solution to meet the company's digital transformation needs. A hackathon was chosen because it allows for an intensive, hands-on approach that promotes innovation, teamwork, and rapid prototyping.
The hackathon was organised by PDIH in close cooperation with the company. PDIH supported the preparation of the event, including the development of the program, recruitment of participants, promotion of the initiative within the business community and the identification of real problem statements submitted by the company and its partners. The core task of the hackathon was to solve a specific challenge related to software design and functionality, directly addressing the company's operational needs.
Throughout the event, PDIH experts provided mentorship, organisational support and technical guidance to ensure participants stayed focused and that the solutions developed were aligned with practical business requirements.
Results and Benefits
Participation in the 48-hour hackathon provided the customer with strategic benefits, while representing a cost-effective investment in innovation and digital transformation:
-
Access to innovative solutions: The hackathon enabled the rapid development of creative ideas and functional prototypes that directly addressed real technological or business challenges faced by the participating organisations.
-
Talent identification: The event offered a unique opportunity to identify skilled programmers, testers, designers and project managers. This facilitates future recruitment and fosters potential collaboration with professionals.
-
Acceleration of digital transformation: Through active participation, organisations gain practical experience with modern digital tools, emerging technologies and agile working methods, increasing their digital maturity in a short period.
-
Networking and ecosystem building: The hackathon brought together companies, startups, experts and research institutions, strengthening connections within the ecosystem. Such networking created opportunities for future partnerships, technology transfer and collaborative projects.
-
Cost-effective problem solving: The hackathon offers a low-risk, high-impact approach to generating prototype solutions without requiring substantial upfront investments in in-house development or expensive consultancy services.
-
Public/Private funding and financial impact: The organisation of the hackathon was co-financed through public funds provided by PDIH, which covered expert support, technical infrastructure and organisational costs. Private contributions from participating companies demonstrated their commitment to innovation.
-
Return on investment: Participating organisations not only obtained prototypes and practical solutions but also significantly increase their innovation capacity and competitiveness. In many cases, the ideas generated during the hackathon have the potential to evolve into market-ready products or internal process improvements, leading to measurable financial benefits.
-
Empowerment of internal teams: For companies delegating their own employees to the event, the hackathon boosts motivation, fosters creativity and enhances practical problem-solving skills.
In conclusion, the hackathon represents a high-value, low-risk investment that delivers both immediate results in the form of prototypes and long-term benefits through knowledge transfer, ecosystem integration, and accelerated digital transformation.
Measurable data
The hackathon delivered clear, measurable benefits for the participating organisations and confirmed its effectiveness as a tool for supporting digital transformation:
-
Over the course of 48 hours, 100 game development enthusiasts formed 22 teams, supported by 8 volunteers and 5 mentors, to work intensively on real business and creative challenges. As a result, 22 working prototypes of games were developed.
-
The event fostered new connections within the innovation ecosystem—at least a dozen new collaborations were initiated between participants, mentors, and representatives of local companies and organisations.
-
Participants reported a significant increase in digital competencies, particularly in areas such as teamwork, problem-solving, prototyping, and the use of game development tools and technologies.
-
Follow-up discussions with companies and mentors highlighted the potential for real financial and operational benefits from the solutions created during the event.
-
The hackathon also served as a highly visible platform for promoting EDIH services, with multiple organisations expressing interest in continued cooperation and support.
-
An informal highlight of the event was the creative use of resources—150 empty pizza boxes were transformed into a life-sized cardboard tank, showcasing the playful spirit and teamwork of the participants.
These results demonstrate that, when tailored to community and business needs, the hackathon format is a powerful and practical tool for driving innovation, building digital skills, and strengthening collaboration within the regional ecosystem.
DMA score and results - Stage 0
The assessment from the T0 results suggest the organisation has achieved an average level of digital maturity (26-50%), indicating a solid foundation in digital technologies and skills. However, there remains significant potential for improvement to further enhance its operations and products. As such, the company would profit from:
-
Increasing preparedness—in terms of strategic planning and resource allocation—to enable the adoption of more advanced and innovative digital solutions.
-
Embracing more advanced systems such as Information Management Systems, ERP, e-commerce platforms (B2B, B2C, B2G), social networks, and disruptive technologies like Artificial Intelligence.
-
Developing and organising well-structured training programs and specialised IT professionals to support these initiatives.
-
Developing a comprehensive data strategy—including strong data security measures—to enhance data analytics capabilities and support strategic decision-making.
-
Integrating ICT technologies focused on sustainability to reduce its environmental footprint.
-
Monitoring and analysing the return on investment and financial benefits achieved or expected from these digital initiatives.
Lessons learned
Based on the experience gained from organising the 48-hour hackathon in collaboration with the company, several key lessons and good practices emerged that can be valuable for other EDIHs planning to deliver similar services:
-
Start with a needs assessment. Conducting a thorough Digital Maturity Assessment was essential to understanding the organisation's real needs and gaps. This ensured that the hackathon was not a generic event but a tailored intervention aligned with the company's digital transformation priorities.
-
Co-creation of the challenge. Involving the customer in defining the specific problem statements for the hackathon significantly increased engagement and relevance. Encouraging companies to submit real business challenges ensured that the solutions developed were practical and had a clear pathway for further implementation.
-
Diversity of participants. It proved highly effective to include not only technical experts such as developers and testers but also graphic designers, UI/UX specialists, and project managers. This interdisciplinary approach fostered creativity, improved solution quality, and reflected real-world team dynamics.
-
Clear communication and promotion. Early and targeted promotion within the business community was critical for attracting the right participants and partners. It's important to clearly communicate the benefits, structure and expectations of the hackathon to ensure commitment and high-quality participation.
-
Strong mentorship and technical support. Providing EDIH experienced mentors throughout the event was a key success factor. Their guidance helped teams stay focused, overcome technical challenges, and align their solutions with industry standards and the company's digital needs.
-
Post-event follow-up is crucial. The hackathon should not end with the announcement of winners. Organising a structured follow-up — including solution evaluation, recommendations for further development, and connection to support programs - is essential.
Need support?
Consult our catalogue to locate the Eupopean Digital Innovation Hub nearest to you and accelerate your company's digital transformation.