EU Sparks for Climate

EU Sparks for Climate Final

The EU Sparks for Climate: Citizens Hackathon Championship will hold its final on 10-11 October 2024.

Around 30 teams, which have been awarded as winning teams in the local hackathons organised between May and September in different EU locations, will present the innovative solutions they have developed to tackle climate challenges and compete to become the first European Citizens Hackathon Champions!

10 October

Agenda Day 1

14:00 | Opening by the European Commission

14:05 | Keynote speech: empowering and engaging citizens for innovation and knowledge valorisation

14:25 | Developing new solutions for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities: presentation of the solutions developed by the teams and questions from the audience

15:25 | Developing new solutions for Adaptation to Climate Change: presentation of the solutions developed by the teams and questions from the audience

16:25 | Closing by the EU Sparks for Climate consortium

11 October

Agenda Day 2

09:00 | Opening by the European Commission and introduction of the jury

09:15 | Pitching by all teams in the final followed by questions from the jury

13:00 | Lunch break

14:20 | Announcement of the 9 finalists

14:40 | Panel discussion with the finalists: questions from the jury

15:40 | Captain Sparks visits all the EU Sparks for Climate local hosts

16:00 | Inspiring talk. From ocean plastic to something fantastic: social entrepreneurship for a better world

16:15 | Announcement of the champions and closing by the European Commission

Urban and sustainability expert, Board Member of the EU Cities Mission, with expertise in policy, urban planning, building and construction, energy, mobility, circular economy, and resilience. He connects public and private sector challenges with solutions and finance.

Pia is a ClimateTech investor and startup coach in Europe, with experience in multinational corporations (Capgemini, Nokia, Nordea) and academia, serving on the board at LUT University, which ranks #10 globally in UN SDG #13 Climate Action.

Since 2000 he has been a materials scientist, a corporate R&D Manager in renewable Energy, University Professor, Senior Advisor on Innovation to Cleantech Companies, Entrepreneur and Programme Manager on Energy and Environmental Sustainability at the European Commission.

Architect, researcher, and expert in bioclimatic and biomimetic architecture, nature-based solutions, and the relationship between nature and contemporary architecture. She is involved in climate change resilience initiatives, Mission Adaptation to Climate Change, and the New European Bauhaus.

Associate Director of Computer Vision Center (CVC) and Associate Professor at UAB, Barcelona (Spain). His research interests are AI and its social impact(s), citizen-centric innovation and citizen science. He is former president of ENOLL and current Director of Chair UAB-Cruïlla for AI in arts.

Director of Science Policy at EFPIA, with a PhD in Ethnopharmacognosy (2003) and 18 years of experience in research, EU public and regulatory affairs focused on animal testing, environment, health, safety, and sustainability issues.

Grațian is the founder of UrbanizeHub, a community dedicated to future city development. He has collaborated with the European Commission and the World Bank on urban innovation projects. Holding a PhD in urban governance, he has been a member of the European Commission’s Board of 100 Climate Neutral Cities since 2022.