Join the Thessaloniki Public Transport 2.0 Hackathon and turn your ideas into real solutions for the city. In two days, you’ll work in a team, get support from mentors and relevant professionals, and pitch your concept directly to a jury connected to Thessaloniki’s transport ecosystem.
Thessaloniki’s Public Transport system has been significantly upgraded, with a new metro line and electric buses, while private initiatives provide on-demand transport and micromobility services. The re-design of the public transport bus network of the city should exploit these opportunities to provide the best user experience to its citizens.
Brought to you by the Transport Authority of Thessaloniki (TheTA), The Centre for Research & Technology, Hellas – Hellenic Institute of Transport (CERTH/HiT) and the E-MED project, with EIT Urban Mobility as the Delivery and Programme Partner.
Key Dates
- 6 February 2026 – Registrations open
- 28 February 2026, 23:59 (local time) – Registration deadline
- 14 – 15 March 2026 – Hackathon
When & Where
- Date: 14 – 15 March 2026
- Format: In person
- Location: Olympic Museum of Thessaloniki (Workshop Room)
3rd Septemvriou Avenue, 546 36, Thessaloniki
Who Can Join
- Who: Participants can include individuals of any legal age, as well as groups or teams of people; travel and accommodation expenses are NOT covered. No coding experience necessary.
- Teams: Form a team of up to 6 participants. Joining alone? No problem – you can join an existing team, or we’ll help you find one. Gender-balanced teams are encouraged to bring in different perspectives and ideas.
How It Works
- On the first day of the hackathon, your team will be assigned one of the two challenges below.
- You’ll identify a specific problem within that challenge and create a solution with your team.
- Mentors will be onsite to guide the teams. An inspiring talk and a workshop will help inspire your innovation and public speaking skills.
- At the end, you’ll pitch your idea in a 5-minute presentation to the jury.
Mentors
To be confirmed.
Challenges
Challenge 1 – Optimise TheTA’s Current Operations
Every day, TheTA operates a large fleet of buses across the city. Even with constant efforts to optimise operations, the process is a highly complex problem, so it can always be improved.
Your mission:
- Spot where the system could work smarter, faster, or fairer for passengers.
- Propose solutions to improve operations – this could be better route planning, smarter scheduling, improved passenger flow, or tools that help TheTA make better decisions.
Think in terms of:
- How can we reduce waiting times, delays and door-to-door travel times?
- How can we make better use of existing buses and depots?
- Which bus routes, stops and garages should be redefined by the new metro service?
- What kind of digital tools or concepts could help TheTA monitor and improve performance?
Your tools:
A public transport network design tool, designed by CERTH/HIT, able to optimise the assignment of buses to routes, or even to modify these routes to better complement the new metro line.
Challenge 2 – Build TheTA’s Zero-Emission Bus Fleet Game Plan
Thessaloniki wants cleaner air and quieter streets – but going green is not as simple as buying a few electric buses and hoping for the best.
Your mission:
Design a smart, realistic plan for how TheTA can move towards a low- or zero-emission bus fleet, while keeping services reliable for passengers.
You’ll think about:
- Which buses (or routes) should go electric or alternative fuel first.
- Where and when buses should charge or refuel so that operations still run smoothly and be more economical.
- What kind of depot and charging/refuelling setup TheTA would need to support this transition.
Guiding question:
Imagine you’re TheTA’s “future fleet strategist” for a day. How would you design the best transition strategy to electric buses, so the ones coming are assigned to routes having the highest impact? What mix of technologies would you choose, and how would you make it work in real life?
Your tools:
Tools developed by IDIADA and CERTH/HIT to support the planning of the operation of routes with electric buses and garage infrastructure for charging them.
How Winners Are Selected
- All participants receive a certificate of participation.
- The jury will select two winning teams – one per challenge.
Prizes
- Each winning team will receive 1500€ in cash.
- Each member of the winning teams will receive six-months’ worth of unlocks from hop, the e-scooter sharing service that is available in Thessaloniki, Athens and Patras.
- More prizes could be announced later.
Language
- All materials will be provided in English.
- Pitches must be in English.
- You are welcome to speak Greek or any other language within your team and with mentors.
Your Hackathon Checklist
- Register from 6 February 2026 until 28 February 2026, 23:59 (local time).
- Create a team of up to 6 people, ideally with a mix of backgrounds and genders.
- If you don’t have a team, don’t worry – there will be a pitch session on Day 1 to help you form a team or join existing teams.
- Bring your laptop – you´ll need it for research, accessing E-MED tools and preparing your presentation
- During the hackathon, work with your mentors to refine your idea. Join an inspirational talk and a workshop designed to inspire your strategy and pitching skills.
- Pitch your solution in a 5-minute presentation on the afternoon of 15 March 2026.
- The winning teams will be announced by the jury on Day 2 during the closing ceremony.
Draft Agenda
| 14 March 2026 (Sat) | ||
| Time | Description | Responsible |
| 8:30-9:00 | Arrival and registration | All |
| 9:00-9:05 | Welcome speech from TheTA | TheTA |
| 9:05-9:10 | Welcome speech from E-MED | E-MED |
| 9:10-9:20 | Introduction of mentors | EIT UM, mentors |
| 9:20-9:40 | Presentation of Thessaloniki challenges | CERTH/HIT, TheTA |
| 9:40-9:45 | Presentation of Day 1 agenda | EIT UM |
| 9:45-10:00 | Coffee break | |
| 10:00-11:30 | 1 minute elevator pitch to introduce yourself + Team-forming finalisation + Start working on their hackathon projects with the guidance of all mentors | EIT UM, hackathon participants, mentors |
| 11:30-15:00 | Hackathon time
Mentors will be available for ad hoc consultation
Lunch will be provided at 13:00 but participants can continue hacking |
Hackathon participants |
| 15:00-15:45 | Check-point with all mentors to help with refining ideas/solutions. One team at a time while others keep working | Hackathon participants, mentors |
| 15:45-18:30 | Hackathon time | Hackathon participants |
| 18:30-19:00 | Wrap-up and give information about the agenda for Day 2 | EIT UM |
| 19:00 | End of the Day 1 hackathon meeting (teams might keep working remotely on their projects at home) | |
| 15 March 2026 (Sun) | ||
| 8:30-9:00 | Arrival and registration | All |
| 9:00-9:10 | Presentation of hackathon agenda Day 2 | EIT UM |
| 9:10-9:30 | Inspirational talk | TBC |
| 9:30-9:45 | Coffee break | |
| 9:45-11:30 | Hackathon time | Hackathon participants |
| 11:30-12.15 | Workshop – Winning Pitch: Make Your Idea Jury-Ready (Optional) | EIT UM |
| 12:15-13:00 | Check-point with all mentors to help with refining ideas/solutions. One team at a time while others keep working | Hackathon participants, mentors |
| 13:00-15:00 | Hackathon time + Preparation of presentations
Lunch will be provided at 13:00 but participants can continue hacking |
Hackathon participants |
| 15:00-16:30 | Presentation of proposals | Hackathon participants |
| 16:30-17:15 | Jury deliberation | TBC |
| In parallel: Short feedback session on E-MED tools (E-MED will prepare) | ||
| 17:15-19:00 | Result announcement -award nomination | All |
Registration Form: https://eiturbanmobility.typeform.com/to/ot2iGPID
If you have registered successfully, we will contact you in the first week of March 2026 to confirm your participation and send you final information and instructions.
Details about the Thessaloniki Public Transport 2.0 Hackathon will be updated periodically on the TheTA website. For the most up-to-date information please check: Άνοιξαν οι εγγραφές για το Thessaloniki Public Transport 2.0 Hackathon, που διοργανώνει ο ΟΣΕΘ. | ΟΣΕΘ | Οργανισμός Συγκοινωνιακού Έργου Θεσσαλονίκης
