EUNICE-UFV International Hackathon 2026: Women in STEM – Challenges, Ideas and Solutions

From 13 to 15 October 2026, international teams will be working on one of the key questions facing science and innovation: how can we strengthen women’s participation, inclusion and career progression in the fields of Mathematics, Computer Science, natural sciences and technology (MINT)?

The hackathon forms part of the official programme of the 2026 ‘Academic Integration Symposium’ at the UFV (SIA UFV 2026). This year’s theme for the symposium is ‘Ciência Delas’ – Science by Women.

Who can take part?

- Students (undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral studies) enrolled at UFV or an EUNICE partner university

- Students from all disciplines, as diverse perspectives lead to stronger solutions

- Participants with a good command of English who are able to attend all three days

Participation by people of all genders is naturally welcomed and encouraged.

How does it work?

Registration is on an individual basis. The organisers will then form teams of four, bringing together students from different universities, countries and disciplines. Over the course of three days, each team will go through a structured innovation process:

Challenge → Validation → Business Model Canvas → MVP → Pitch → Demo Day

Expert talks and workshops will take place via Google Meet. Teamwork and mentoring will take place within a dedicated Discord community.

Programme

- Tuesday, 13 October: Opening, presentation of the challenges and validation of the problem

- Wednesday, 14 October: Business model, moving from concept to MVP (first prototype) and preparation of the pitch

- Thursday, 15 October: Demo Day with the final team pitches at 3.30 pm (CEST), followed by evaluation and announcement of the results

The live sessions begin at 3.00 pm CEST (11.00 am in Brazil). The detailed programme and access links will be sent to registered participants. 

Evaluation and awards

An international jury will evaluate the solutions based on eight criteria: relevance to the challenge, validation, degree of innovation, value proposition, impact on women in STEM fields, feasibility, quality of the solution and the MVP, and the pitch.

Awards

- For all participants: a certificate of participation; participation in this activity counts towards 2 ECTS credits. 
- For the winners: a winner’s certificate, a dedicated article on the EUNICE and UFV websites, and coverage of the costs of attending the EUNICE Synergy Congress.

Why take part?

- Work on real-world challenges alongside students from Europe and Brazil
- Learn about practical innovation methods – from problem validation to the pitch
- Expand your international network within the EUNICE Alliance
- Help shape a more inclusive future in STEM.

Registration

Complete individual registration via the online form.

Registration period: 5 to 11 October

To join the hackathon community, you’ll need your Discord username.

More women, a better future. We look forward to hearing your ideas!

If you have any further questions, please contact internacional.tecnoparq@ufv.br or estrategia.vicosasmart@ufv.br.