HackSTEM 2026: AI safety innovation for field operations

Applications are open from October 15 to November 3, 2026. Before applying, please review the Terms and Conditions for complete information about eligibility, participation requirements, and programme rules.

When severe weather strikes, timely information can save lives.

Teams are challenged to design a cost-effective, AI-powered mobile safety assistant for technicians working in remote and low-connectivity environments. Using weather and oceanographic data, solutions should provide timely alerts and actionable insights that help field personnel anticipate risks and respond effectively.

Participants will work alongside Siemens Energy mentors to develop innovative, practical solutions to this challenge.

What we're looking for:

We're looking for solutions that demonstrate:

• Reliable operation in remote and low-connectivity environments

• Timely and actionable safety alerts

• Strong cybersecurity and data privacy considerations

• Scalability and cost-effective deployment

• An intuitive and user-friendly experience

• Innovation, technical feasibility, and potential safety impact

• Clear communication and effective multidisciplinary teamwork

HackSTEM is open to undergraduate and master's students enrolled in a degree program in Germany, Spain, or Denmark during the 2026/27 academic year.

Participants must be at least 18 years old (or the legal age of majority in their country), be able to collaborate and present in English, and apply either as part of a multidisciplinary team of 3–5 students or as an individual applicant.

Students applying individually will be matched with other participants to form multidisciplinary teams based on complementary skills and backgrounds.

Gain hands-on experience applying AI to a real-world industry challenge, strengthen your innovation and problem-solving skills, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams from across Europe.

All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Outstanding teams in the following three categories will be awarded prizes: Best Overall Solution, Greatest Safety Impact, and Most Innovative Use of AI.

Teams demonstrating strong potential may also be invited to join the Incubathon, an exclusive five-month development program running from January to June 2027.

• October 15 – November 3, 2026: Application period
• November 19, 2026: Mandatory online preparation workshop
• December 3, 2026: HackSTEM Student Hackathon
• January – June 2027: Incubathon Program

Selected teams will participate in a five-month development program combining mentoring, workshops, and coaching to refine, validate, and advance their solutions.

Designed to fit alongside university studies, the program requires an average commitment of 6–8 hours per week.

Participants who successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate of Completion and achieve learning outcomes and workload comparable to those associated with up to 5 ECTS credits.

Recognition of these learning outcomes for academic credit is subject to each university's policies and cannot be guaranteed.

Applications are open from October 15 to November 3, 2026. Before applying, please review the Terms and Conditions for complete information about eligibility, participation requirements, and programme rules.

About HackSTEM: HackSTEM is an Energy4Good initiative, Siemens Energy's corporate social responsibility program focused on innovation and societal impact. This employee-led initiative is delivered in collaboration with U4Impact (now Solsticio), a platform that connects organizations with university talent through real-world challenges, hackathons, and innovation projects.