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, more than 30 participants from all over Germany came together from May 16 to 18 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 the digitalHUB Aachen e.V. - held at a location that is as special as it is symbolic: the digitalCHURCH.

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: working 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 Sunday, May 18, 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 and had the opportunity to present their project at the Ludwig Forum on May 19 as part of the opening ceremony of AI Week, which was initiated by the RWTH's AI Center. In addition, the youngest participant, aged eleven, received the "Special Prize for the Most Creative Idea". She and her father planned a smart park, including intelligent and power-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 business development department.

The city's economic development agency would like to thank all those involved, in particular 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, 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.