Can a hackathon help us prepare for the next crisis?
With our Government as a Platform (GaaP) research project on digital crisis response, we set out to test that question in practice. Instead of theory, we chose intensity, diversity, and time pressure.

Here is what happened — in numbers.

48 hours

That was all the time teams had to understand complex crisis challenges, design solutions, and present working concepts. The short timeframe forced fast decisions, clear priorities, and constant collaboration.

9 teams

Each team approached resilience from a different angle. Some focused on coordination, others on access, matching, or legal support — showing how many dimensions crisis response really has.

27 computer science students

Students stepped into unfamiliar problem spaces, worked with real stakeholders, and translated abstract needs into concrete digital ideas. The learning curve was steep, and the commitment was impressive.

Countless ideas
Some rough, some promising, all shaped by time pressure, teamwork, and discussion.

The biggest takeaway? Hackathons are a powerful way to test research, connect diverse actors, and explore how digital tools can serve the public good — especially before a crisis hits.

🎥 Curious what 48 hours of crisis innovation looks like?
The video captures the energy better than words ever could.