CleanTech Hackathon

Corporate Open Innovation for Energy and Sustainability Challenges

23-24 May 2025 @ Energy Expo
Laminor Arena, Bucharest

FOR ENERGY INNOVATORS COMMUNITY in Romania, Republic of Moldova & South-East European markets

Integrative part of the SEE CleanTech Nexus Program

The first cleantech Corporate Open Innovation hackathon in SEE dedicated to innovations in energy & sustainability: 100+ participants, 40 teams, one international community

The hackathon is an integrative part of the anual CleanTech Nexus Program and the starting point for the startups, researchers and technology providers in the interaction with the corporate energy POC's & acceleration processes

One weekend, full of mentoring, matchmakings and technology validation with our international mentors and experts in energy & sustainability

Recognition and validation in front of SEE’s leading energy and sustainability community, including corporate professionals, researchers, and investors

Awards totaling €22.000

And because competitive teams with innovative products & sollutions deserve recognition, here’s what the top teams will take home:

1st place

€5,000 cash

2nd place

€3,000 cash

3rd place

€2,000 cash

Corporate PoC's

6 Categories

Special Mentions

6 Classes

Tech & Services

€12,000

MAIN PARTNERS

Platinum Partner

Challenge Partner

TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH PARTNERS

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

Communication Partners

Food & Beverages Partners

Open Challenges from the energy corporate community of partners in SEE

Intelligent Congestion Management for Electricity Distribution Networks Challenge

As electricity grids become increasingly complex due to the integration of renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, and distributed energy sources (DERs), managing congestion in distribution networks has become a critical challenge for Distribution Operators.

Unified Data Integration Platform for Prosumers' Energy Flows

With the rapid growth of prosumers (clients who both consume and produce energy, often via solar PVs), energy supply companies are facing increasing difficulty in obtaining standardized, real-time energy flow data.

The lack of interoperability between diverse inverter models and platforms limits the visibility suppliers, DSOs, and TSOs have over distributed production and consumption patterns.

Tokenized Investment Platform for Renewable Energy Asset Co-Ownership

Energy transition requires massive investments in renewable assets such as solar parks, wind farms and battery storage (BESS).

At the same time, energy consumers are increasingly looking for ways to participate in the green transition beyond consumption.

This challenge seeks to create a digital platform that enables supply clients to co-invest in renewable projects, democratizing asset ownership and aligning customer engagement with sustainability goals.

Adaptive Optimization Algorithms for Urban EV Charging Networks

As electric mobility infrastructure expands in urban areas, operators face rising pressure to balance resource allocation, infrastructure deployment, and energy consumption all while maintaining cost-efficiency and high service availability.

This challenge aims to develop adaptive, data-driven algorithms for optimizing EV charger usage across city zones, using synthetic or anonymized datasets to model various deployment scenarios.

Digital Twin for Energy Production Facilities

We are interested in a Digital Twin solution primarily for predictive maintenance, and also for cybersecurity.

AI / AI agent solutions and integrated management platforms:

Ensuring data governance, integrating multiple sources (ETL), analysis and reporting (Business Intelligence) – implement a platform that offers capabilities for Data Governance, Data Integration, ETL (Extract, Transform, Load), and Reporting.
An AI Agent with LLM (Large Language Model) capabilities to streamline work with the large volume of documents (HR, Procurement, Engineering, Maintenance, etc.).
An AI-based solution to assist with its Corrective Action Program (CAP) and Work Management (WM) processes.
Automating processes in energy, natural gas, and nuclear storage facilities.
Managing visitors and contractors in energy and nuclear facilities – a solution to automate the workflows for granting access to facilities, noting that these flows are specific and involve multiple steps and document types.

Use of drones and software platforms for automating the periodic and accidental inspection for industrial facilities and surveillance of overhead power lines.

Automating the inspection process of overhead power lines using drones and flight software in semi-automatic or automatic conditions (VLOS/BVLOS).

At the same time using Artificial Intelligence, collected data should be analysed and interpreted in order to identify defects.

AI forecasting of consumption and generation in low voltage networks

As the number of prosumers increases in the low voltage grid and consumption profiles change significantly based on weather the need for AI driven forecasting for day ahead regarding production and consumption becomes a critical challenge for Distribution Operators.

Next-Gen AI-based SecOps for energy infrastructure, covering both OT and IT environments

The solutions should reduce false alarms, decrease cyber data storage volume, and enable terabyte-scale analysis with reduced computing resources.

Why should you join the Open Innovation Process?

As a Startup founder, ScaleUp, tech R&D team or scientist join for deep
critical thinking in the clean energy innovation tech sector to reach faster validation & growth

To support your product GoToMarket, raise the interest of energy corporate clients and get on stage, in the media and in front of VC investors and business angels

Connect & collaborate with the leading clean energy companies in SEE with activities in energy production (electric, gas, nuclear, renewables), distribution, electric mobility

Ideal Participants

You can join as a Company, Team or Individual

Startups & Entrepreneurs,
with new ideas in the spectrum of energy & sustainability disciplines

ScaleUps and Tech Companies with a products and sollutions ready to transform the energy sector

Experts & Energy innovators, particularly those drawn to the science and technology of cleantech

Builders & researchers, with a focus on practical applications

Science enthusiasts, regardless of their professional background

Jury and mentors: corporate professionals, researchers, investors

Special Mention Categories

The finalists will be reviewed by an executive committee composed of invitees from the Romanian Ministry of Energy, hackathon partners, and industry experts.
Each finalist project will be evaluated by all executive judges. Based on their individual assessments,the committee will nominate teams for one of the 3 main awards, the following special mention categories. At the level of the CleanTech Nexus Program we will follow up with the top performing teams for POC’s opportunities and business acceleration.

Best Use of Science

The solution that makes the best and most valid use of science and/or the scientific method.

Best Use of Data

The solution that best makes data accessible, or leverages it to a unique application.

Best Use of Technology

The solution that exemplifies the most innovative use of technology.

Most Inspirational

The solution that captures our hearts.

Best Storytelling Award

The most creative communication of the potential of open data through the art of storytelling.

Local Impact Award

The solution that demonstrates the greatest potential for local impact.

Benefits for Partners

Tech Scouting

Identify emerging energy technologies and trends (renewables, smart grids, energy efficiency, customer solutions)

PoC Validation

Test internal innovation concepts via participant challenges, refining strategies and prioritizing program projects. Explore promising hackathon solutions.