Koja Group Hackathon 2026

The world needs smart solutions. Would you like to challenge your skills in an innovation competition focused on intelligent control of building services systems?

Join the Koja Group Hackathon, an event designed for students, we promise you an inspiring day in an innovative environment. This year’s challenge combines building services engineering and HVAC systems with programming and machine learning. You don’t need to be an expert in every field, you’ll contribute your own expertise to your team.

KOJA GROUP HACKATHON

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 9:00–20:00
at Koja R&D Center
(Lentokentänkatu 7, 33900 Tampere)

Registration is open until March 18, 2026.

A total prize pool of €3,000 will be awarded to the three best teams – definitely worth joining!

Dear Student,

Last year, we decided to try something new, and that decision led to the first-ever Koja Group Hackathon. Encouraged by the success of the pilot, we want to continue what is already becoming a tradition and warmly welcome you, the builders of digital Finland, to join us again!

The challenge is to develop an algorithm, AI model, or control logic that dynamically controls a building’s ventilation, heating, and cooling. You will work with simulated building data, and your task is to minimize energy consumption while maintaining high indoor air quality.

The optimized control can utilize, for example, machine learning, predictive analytics, or other advanced control logic.
We won’t reveal all the details of the challenge just yet – instead, we invite all interested students to take part in teams of around six members.

The date has been carefully chosen just before the May Day celebrations, on April 8, 2026, and the event will take place at our R&D Center on Lentokentänkatu in Tampere. With one year of experience behind us, we don’t yet consider ourselves hackathon veterans, nor do we aim for a textbook-style hackathon. Instead, we do things our own way, and we have further developed the event based on feedback from last year.

The official program will run from morning to evening. We’ll provide food and refreshments throughout the day, followed by lively afterparty celebrations at the Teekkarisauna in Tampere. Once again, a total prize pool of €3,000 awaits the top three teams!

Registration is open until March 18, 2026. Participants selected for the event will be notified by email by March 25, 2026.

Join us to help digitalize Finnish industry, and enjoy a fun and inspiring day while you’re at it. See you in Härmälä!

What is the event about?

Koja Group Hackathon is a competition where teams develop a creative solution to a given challenge within a limited time. The genenal theme of the task is announced in advance, but detailed instructions are only given at the start of the competition.

Teams will have the entire event time to develop their solution. Once the competition period ends, a jury consisting of experts from Koja and Chiller will evaluate and score the teams’ solutions. The results will be announced at the end of the event.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

To take part in the Koja Group Hackathon, you must be a legal-age student studying in Finland. Your field of study does not matter, but the challenge is particularly well suited for students in computer science, automation, energy technology, or building services engineering.

A diverse skill set within the team is an advantage. The most successful teams typically combine programming skills (Python), understanding of building services systems (HVAC), and an interest in machine learning applications or intelligent control logic. You don’t need to be an expert in every area yourself, you contribute your own expertise to the team.

THE CHALLENGE

The challenge focuses on intelligent control of building services systems. The task is to develop an algorithm, AI model, or control logic that dynamically controls a building’s ventilation, heating, and cooling. You will work with simulated building data, and your objective is to minimize energy consumption while maintaining high-quality indoor air conditions. The optimized control solution may utilize, for example, machine learning, predictive analytics, or other advanced control logic.

REGISTRATION

Participation in the hackathon takes place in teams of approximately six members. You may form your own team and register the entire group at once, or you can register individually and let us assign you to a team.

Registration is open until March 18, 2026.

The maximum number of participants is 50. If the number of applicants exceeds this limit, participants will be selected after the registration period ends. Selected participants will be notified by email no later than March 25, 2026.

PRIZES

The best competition performances will be rewarded with cash prizes:
1st place: €1,500 per team
2nd place: €1,000 per team
3rd place: €500 per team

EVENT ARRANGEMENTS

The event will be held at Koja’s R&D Center, which serves as the company’s product development and testing facility. Participants are expected to bring their own laptops, along with their skills and creative mindset. Teamwork spaces adapted for group work at the R&D Center will be provided.

Food will be served during the event, and coffee and soft drinks will be available throughout the day.

AFTER THE EVENT

After the hackathon, participants are invited to continue discussions and unwind together at the Teekkarisauna in Tampere, sponsored by Koja Group. Transportation from the event venue to the sauna will be arranged for those who wish to join.

FURTHER INFO

Turo Välikangas, Head of Digitalization, Koja Oy
(turo.valikangas@koja.fi)

Note: The organizer reserve the right to make team adjustments if necessary.