A weekend full of energy, ideas and interdisciplinary teamwork: the Smart City Hackathon 2025 showed how innovative technologies, creative minds and joint commitment can shape the future of Aachen. In the run-up to Aachen AI Week, over 30 participants from all over Germany came together to develop solutions for a more liveable Aachen under the motto "Sustainable and smart city of the future".

The premiere of the hackathon was organized by the Department of Economics, Science, Digital City and Europe of the City of Aachen in cooperation with the AI Center of RWTH Aachen University, the Bischöfliche Akademie Aachen and digitalHUB Aachen e.V.. The venue for the hackathon was the digitalCHURCH.

Over the weekend, multidisciplinary teams developed concrete solutions for key challenges of smart urban development - from the use of artificial intelligence in urban planning to an intelligent event calendar and ideas for electricity-generating play equipment. The focus was always on the interplay between technology, sustainability and social added value. One highlight was the work with digital twins. Several teams explored how urban data can be visualized, linked and used for resilient urban development with the help of AI.

On the final day, the teams presented their results to a jury of experts from administration, science and business. Prize money totaling 8,500 euros was awarded, including three special prizes. First prize was awarded to the Noise Aware team, which dealt with environmental noise and its avoidance in the city. The team also received the special prize from MathWorks, giving them the opportunity to present their project at the opening ceremony of the AI Week, which was initiated by the AI Center at RWTH Aachen University. In addition, the youngest participant, aged 11, received the "Special prize for the most creative idea". She and her father planned a smart park - including intelligent and electricity-generating play equipment.

"The hackathon is the perfect opportunity for people with big ideas to get off to a practical start," said Eli, a member of the Noise Aware team, summing up the Smart City Hackathon. "We are taking away a lot of ideas for the further development of Aachen as a smart city and see real collaboration potential for the future in the results," added Dieter Begaß, Head of the city's Department of Economy, Science, Digital City and Europe.

The city's Economic Development Department would like to thank all those involved - in particular the city's Mobility and Transport Department, digitalHUB Aachen e.V., the AI Center of RWTH Aachen University, the Bischöfliche Akademie Aachen and the partners Innoloft GmbH, INFORM GmbH, Apptek.ai Inc, SVG KRAVAG, MathWorks Inc. and, of course, all the committed participants.

Together, it became clear that the path to a smart city leads through cooperation, openness and the courage to think in new ways.