The European project IMPULSE presents its technological prototypes with an international hackathon focused on collaboration, experimentation, and co-design. The future of digital transformation applied to cultural heritage is unfolding in Athens.
When
June 4-5th.
Who
The collaborative sessions on June 4th and June 5th (morning) are by invitation only. The Plenary Session on June 5th from 13.30 CET will be streamed on Discord.
Where
Impact Hub, Athens, Greece (collaborative sessions only) and Romantso, Athens, Greece (Plenary session)
OR
Online, via IMPULSE Community of Practice on Discord
What
IMPULSE Hackathon 2026 is an international event bringing together researchers, innovators, stakeholders, and creative professionals for two days dedicated to experimenting with and developing new immersive solutions.
The event is scheduled for June 4–5, 2026, at Impact Hub Athens, and will be one of the central moments of the project, which is funded under European initiatives dedicated to digital innovation and digital cultural heritage.
Presentation of IMPULSE Prototypes
The hackathon will mark the official debut of the technological prototypes developed by the IMPULSE project, giving participants the opportunity to test innovative solutions and actively contribute to their evolution. The event is designed as a hybrid and collaborative experience, fostering dialogue between research, creativity, and technological development through hands-on activities and co-design sessions.
During the two days, participants will engage in:
- Interdisciplinary exchange sessions
- Collaborative experimentation sessions based on 6 challenges
- Testing and evaluation activities
- Roundtable discussions with industry experts
One of the event’s main goals is to gather concrete feedback on the solutions developed by the IMPULSE project, turning the hackathon into an open lab for participatory innovation. Researchers and stakeholders will have the opportunity to directly collaborate on the evolution of IMPULSE technologies, contributing ideas, evaluations, and operational proposals.
Special attention will also be given to creativity and teamwork, key elements of the experience designed by the organizers to stimulate new opportunities for growth and development in the field of immersive digitization.
Launch of the IMPULSE Mentoring Hub
Among the highlights of the event is the official launch of the IMPULSE Mentoring Hub, an initiative designed to create new connections between professionals, researchers, and innovators in the field of digital cultural transformation. The program will include a final pitch competition, where teams will present the ideas and solutions developed during the hackathon. Moreover, the program include a roundtable among the experts involved in the Mentoring Board:
- Lena Thiele, Miiqo Studios
- Matias Schuster Puga, EIT Culture & Creativity
- Patryk Lichota, Adam Mickiewicz University
Moderated by Bjorn Stockleben, Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF and Paloma Korycińska, Jagiellonian University.
Hybrid Event and Open Access for the International Community
While in-person attendance is by invitation only, the event will be open to the international community via a live stream on Discord. In particular, the plenary session on Friday afternoon will be broadcast online starting at 13:30 (CET), allowing professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts from around the world to follow the proceedings and participate virtually.
With the IMPULSE Hackathon, the project reaffirms its commitment to developing innovative tools for enhancing digital cultural heritage and immersive experiences. The event represents an important opportunity for the intersection of technology, research, and creativity, contributing to the construction of a European ecosystem increasingly focused on collaboration, experimentation, and digital innovation.
