Hackathon — creativity at its finest!

The hackathon weekend was full of excitement, innovation, and surprising ideas! The event, held at Urban Lab Rzeszów, brought together nearly 60 participants from 13 teams — ranging from students of local schools and universities to experienced business professionals.

Over two days, participants worked intensively on circular solutions for five local companies: TEXOM SP. Z O.O., GC ENERGY SP. Z O.O., Inżynieria Rzeszów S.A., Drukarnia Geokart, and FIBRAIN. The quality of the projects presented was impressive, and the participants’ creativity surprised the judges!

Awarded Teams:

🏆 1st Place: “Trzech Muszkieterów”

Team members: Karol Skroban, Dawid Kogut, Bartosz Ignaś

Challenge: Develop practical solutions to improve the efficiency of PV panel recycling and enable the recovery of components for reuse in industrial and electrical installations.

Solution: The team designed an innovative mobile recycling center for used photovoltaic panels — a truck with containers equipped with PV recycling equipment. By using laser technology in the defragmentation process, the solution enables significantly higher recovery rates compared to conventional methods. Laser separation allows up to 90% of materials — including silicon, aluminum, glass, and precious metals — to be reclaimed.

Innovation highlights:

• First mobile unit for complete PV panel recycling — the entire process happens on-site, anywhere.

• Compact and modular design — no need for costly infrastructure and easy customization of modules.

• Scalable recycling potential — mobile units can operate in multiple locations simultaneously, opening new opportunities across the European market.

Benefits: The recycling company can reuse or resell recovered materials. The team estimates a return on investment within 6–10 years, generating around €150,000 per month in revenue.Project developed for: GC Energy

🥈 2nd Place: Team GEKON

Team members: Aleksandra Tomczyk, Antoni Rzeszuto, Jan Szerląg, Weronika Salach, Mikołaj Pączek

Challenge: The company was looking for sustainable solutions to manage waste and by-products from the printing process. The team aimed to reduce paper waste and find eco-friendly methods for toner disposal.

Solution:

Offset printing solutions:

• Use of AI to reduce production waste

• Second life for paper – using it as eco-friendly packaging filler

Toner recycling solutions:

• Collaboration with local recyclers

Benefits:

• Up to 70% cost reduction

• 50% reduction in carbon footprint

• Increased transparency

• Support for the development of modern technologies

Project developed for: Geokart-International Printing House

🥉 3rd Place: Team 4F

Team members: Gabriela Wróbel, Alicja Bujny, Wioletta Kubicz, Łukasz Ledwoń, Marek Biskup

Challenge: Improving the recycling process of PV panels and reclaiming components for reuse in industry and electrical installations.

Solution: Photovoltaic Panel Recycling: A New Era with Electrohydraulics and AI

• Electrohydraulic fragmentation of solar panels

• AI integration to optimize the process

Benefits:

• Reduced carbon footprint

• Higher material recovery rate

• Strengthened market position

• Lower operational costs

• Boosted company innovation

Project developed for: GC Energy

🎖️ Honorable Mentions: FiberCycle and Dinusie – for innovative fiber optic technology solutions developed for FIBRAIN

🎖️ Special Award: ZSEco – for an eco-friendly approach to the disposal of printing materials

The hackathon proved that young people truly understand business needs and can offer modern, sustainable solutions. Their engagement and energy were not only impressive but also deeply inspiring.

The event was organized by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development in collaboration with the Institute of Innovation and Responsible Development INNOWO as part of the project "Circular Transformation Academy for Business".

Event partner: Center for Urban Innovation – Urban Lab Rzeszów.