The idea in a nutshell

What is the problem?

Today, most technologies are underutilized. Organizations like CERN excel at research and development and create top-notch technologies. However, bringing them into industry and/or society marks a major challenge. The inability to extract the full societal value out of technological advancements could result in a macro-economic loss.

The solution: CERN's Superconductor Hackathon

CERN's Superconductor Hackathon is a highly innovative activity striving to help bringing promising technologies to industry. During a 3-days workshop in September this year, interdisciplinary teams will work on the following tasks:

- Identification and evaluation of promising application fields for the latest generation of Intermediate Temperature Superconductors
- Development of concepts and illustrations of potential solutions
- Design of viable commercialization strategies

The teams participating in the Hackathon will consist of technical and management students as well as experts from industry. While competing for the best application ideas, they will be coached and supported by Technology Transfer experts from WU Vienna, Fraunhofer, and CERN.

What's in for the participants?

Besides making the world a bit of a better place by helping to leverage a top-notch technology, participants will

- get insights into the design thinking method, concept development techniques, business modeling, and state-of-the-art technology transfer methods.
- get the opportunity to experience an interdisciplinary collaboration on a real-life technology transfer project.
- meet and experience mentoring from leading experts in the field of superconductors.
- spend three days at CERN and get their travel and accomodation costs fully covered (applies only to members of organizations that are officially affiliated with CERN).
- get a chance to win the CERN Superconductor Hackaton and win awesome price.