# Hack:Org:X v7

`Swiss Hackathon Organizers Network`

Meeting notes created with [BigBlueButton](https://bbb.ch-open.ch/playback/presentation/2.3/414bf51bf47d1bb5209d5b2d0c4bf26f61759172-1763047366180), Parakeet 0.6B V3 & Apertus 0.1 70B





## 1. Introduction Rounds

**Oleg**
- Hackathon organizer, open source maintainer
- Welcomes everybody

**Benno**
- Organizes BärnHäckt, now in its 9th edition
- Marketing director, long IT background but non-technical

**Charles**
- Involved from edges of hackathon community
- Connected through Opendata.ch association
- Works with Zurich hackerspace (Bitwäscherei)
- Mentioned the Etherlaken project in Berner Oberland

**Zoya**
- University of Zurich
- Organized crisis applications hackathon 2 weeks prior
- Focus on refugee crisis (Russian-Ukrainian war)
- Students as participants, challenges from refugee organizations
- First-time organizer, Oleg was keynote speaker

**Stefan**
- Co-organizer of ClimateAction hackathon (May 2025)
- Challenge sponsor at Swiss {ai} Weeks hackathon
- Freelancer promoting green IT

**Sandro**
- Runs a co-working space in Liebefeld = "Silicon Lovefield"
- Hosted a Swiss {ai} Weeks hackathon with Oleg
- IT-centric focus, attracting tech companies from Bern area

**Frederik**
- Hackathon participant, startup person
- Represents typical hackathon contributor profile

**Chai**
- New to community, participated in Swiss AI Weeks organization
- Brought an art & society challenge to the event

**Joseph**
- Joining us remotely, from San Diego
- Hack the Hackathon steering committee member
- Climate science and data management background

## 2. BärnHäckt

https://www.bernhackt.ch/challenges/2025

**Key Characteristics:**

- German-language focus (teams must have 2+ German speakers for pitches)
- Regional focus on Bern area, but open to international participants
- Limited to 120 participants due to venue and presentation time constraints
- ~25 teams annually
- Practical IT/business solutions were highlighted
- Relaxed atmosphere at Marzilli campus (beautiful green location)
- End of August timing, outdoor work possible
- Diverse participants: students to senior developers, international teams

**Governance & Credits:**
- Students get ECTS credits (2 ICT points) through participation and submission
- Mixed student/non-student participation (~30 students of 120)
- Long-running team (8 years) with experienced organizers
- Considering changes for more innovation

**Challenges:**
- Language barriers for international teams
- Judging diverse projects (apps, visualizations, concepts)
- Maintaining quality with mixed skill levels

## 3. Crisis Hackathon

https://governmentasaplatform.ch/

[Oleg's keynote](https://log.alets.ch/113/)

**Format:**
- Exclusively for students with mandatory participation
- Structured as "seminar" for ECTS credit assignment
- English language with German language accommodation for partners
- 30 participants, more manageable scale

**Organizational Insights:**
- Grading still in progress, considering jury input
- Administrative challenges with university credit systems
- Alternative through School of Transdisciplinary Studies considered too complex
- Partner: SwissDevJobs for publicity (logo exchange deal)

## 4. Green IT Hackathon

https://climateaction.bb.dribdat.cc/

**Organization:**
- Run by Climate Action Tech
- Interdisciplinary teams (Zühlke, Google, independents)
- 50 participants, one-day event at Google venue
- Low-budget: catering sponsor + Google venue
- Focus on sustainability awareness in IT

**Unique Aspect:**
- Bridges technical and non-technical participants
- Sustainability experts working with IT professionals

## 5. Swiss {ai} Weeks

https://siliconlovefield.bb.dribdat.cc/

[Oleg's blog](https://log.alets.ch/111/)

**Scale & Impact:**
- 10+ hackathons across Switzerland, 200+ total events
- Launch of sovereign Swiss AI model "Apertus"
- 150+ partners involved
- Bern event: "Silicon Liebefeld" with trade fair + hackathon

**Bern Event Details:**
- 9 teams, outdoor/indoor hacking (see [full stats](https://log.alets.ch/111/#outcomes))
- Pre-hackathon workshops for skill building
- AI judge for evaluation (experimental approach)
- One team (Tibetan chatbot) presented at AI+X Zurich event

**Community Building:**
- Sandro emphasized value of in-person collaboration beyond virtual meetings
- Created local IT community around AI launch
- "Silicon Liebefeld" branding to establish tech scene

## 6. HackIntegration Updates

https://hackintegration.ch

**Academic Initiative:**
- Inosuisse-funded research project (BFH + University of Zurich)
- First Inosuisse research project about hackathons
- Two main focuses: refugee integration and digital team building
- Website hackintegration.ch with Swiss hackathon calendar
- Crowdsourced event listing with map
- Research on team composition recommendations
- Data sharing with privacy protecting ethical review protocols

## 7. Hack the Hackathon v7

https://hackthehackathon.org/

[Oleg's notes](https://drive.proton.me/urls/XS9FE8F2S8#FEhAyPSM6WeO)

**Copenhagen Meeting:**
- 5-day seminar for hackathon researchers
- Topics: pedagogical integration, remote vs physical events, literature reviews
- Shared library of scientific publications growing
- Discord community for ongoing collaboration
- Website: hackthehackathon.org with resources

**Research Directions:**
- Fair hackathon principles and data collection
- Comparison with traditional community organizing
- Gamification possibilities for structured hackathons

## 8. E-Collecting Hackathon (Government)

https://www.bfh.ch/de/aktuell/news/2025/e-collecting-hackathon/

https://hack.opendata.ch/event/77 (unofficial mirror)

**Federal Chancellory Event:**
- E-participation focus, GovTech
- Strict format: GitHub-based, Mermaid flowcharts expected
- Several projects made reference to recent E-ID referendum
- Academic organization with clear deliverable expectations
- Demonstrates hackathons at highest government level

## 9. Future Directions & Community Building

**Key Themes:**
- **Fair Hackathons:** Code of conduct, IP clarity, participant value recognition
- **Community Spaces:** Importance of physical meeting places (#siliconlovefield, hackerspaces)
- **Cross-disciplinary Events:** Music/art hackathons, philosophy integration
- **AI Evolution:** "Prompt busking" concept, vibe coding discussions
- **Regular Events:** Monthly hack nights, hacker gardens tradition
- **Diversity is Strength:** Mix of students, professionals, artists, and newcomers creates vibrant ecosystems
- **Research & Community:** Academic research on hackathons is growing and beneficial to organizers
- **Accessibility:** Need to make hackathons (and hackathon organization) more accessible to non-technical participants

**What's Next:**
- [DINAcon HACKnight](https://hacknight.dinacon.ch) next week in Bern
- [Zurich Climathon](https://climathon.ch/) (November 22-23, Zurich)
- Sign up to the [Hack:Org:X newsletter](https://buttondown.com/hackorgx)
- Post Swiss events on [HackIntegration](https://hackintegration.ch/hackfinder)

**Closing Insights:**
- Importance of transparent organization processes
- Value of both structured and open hackathon formats
- Potential for regular community hacking events beyond traditional hackathons