Türkiye-Greece Hackathon 2025
Reaches the Grand Finale!
The Greece-Türkiye Hackathon 2025 final event, aimed at strengthening technological and innovation cooperation between Türkiye and Greece, was held in Athens with great excitement. The Hackathon brought together the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of both countries, not only reinforcing bilateral ties but also playing a role in planning the sustainable cities of the future.
The excitement of the Hackathon final, which began on February 20-21 at the Kocaeli campus of the Bilişim Vadisi, moved to Athens. The final event and award ceremony of the Hackathon started on February 27 with opening speeches at The Athens Startup Business Incubator (THEA).
“Innovation Breaks Boundaries”
In his speech, Greece’s Minister for Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, discussed how innovation can break boundaries, promote collaboration, and create meaningful change. Papastergiou emphasized that the Türkiye-Greece Hackathon is a vibrant part of the positive agenda, showing how cities can become more sustainable, efficient, and citizen-friendly, while also demonstrating how the youth of the two countries can collaborate successfully.
“The Hackathon Reminds Us of the Power of Unity”
Sophia Kounenaki Efraimoglou, the First Vice President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, remarked, “Initiatives like the Hackathon remind us of the power of unity. They underline that when we put aside our differences and come together for a common purpose, we can achieve extraordinary results.”
“The Türkiye-Greece Hackathon is More Than a Competition”
Türkiye’s Ambassador to Greece, Çağatay Erciyes, stated that the Türkiye-Greece Hackathon is more than just a competition. “This Hackathon is a platform that promotes cooperation, innovation, and friendship between our two countries. We strongly believe in the power of youth, technology, and entrepreneurship to bring about positive change and strengthen the relationship between Türkiye and Greece.” he said.
“The Bonds Between Türkiye and Greece are Strengthening”
Sadullah Uzun, General Manager of the National Technology Initiative, emphasized the importance of the Hackathon, saying, “The ties between our countries are strengthening not only in trade and tourism but also in technology and research. Today is not just about determining the winners of this competition. It is about celebrating innovation, collaboration, and the shared future we are building together. Over the past few days, teams from Türkiye and Greece have worked side by side, addressing some of the most urgent challenges in urban life with creativity, vision, and dedication.”
“Technology and Innovation Only Create True Value When We Work Together”
Erkam Tüzgen, CEO of Bilişim Vadisi, referred to the semi-final held at the Kocaeli campus, saying, “The most talented developers and entrepreneurs from Türkiye and Greece worked on smart cities, sustainable transportation, disaster management, and environmental solutions to create human-centered technologies.” Tüzgen added, “Technology and innovation create true value only when we work together, freely share our ideas, and learn from each other. Türkiye and Greece, with their deep history, rich cultures, and especially the creative energy of their younger generations, have great potential in this field. I am thrilled to see how this potential is being turned into reality today.”
After the opening speeches, teams, guided by expert mentors, prepared for their final presentations. After an intense work period, the teams submitted their projects for jury evaluation.
Hackathon Finalists Presented Their Projects to the Jury
The teams tried to present their ideas in the most effective way within a limited time and answered the jury’s questions. Among the finalists, the “EcoMaris” team, which developed solutions to make marinas sustainable and carbon-neutral while protecting the marine ecosystem, won first place, earning 20,000 euros. The “Ecoloop” team, which proposed an innovative approach to more efficient water management, took second place with 10,000 euros, while the “ResQLink” team, which prevented communication disruptions during disasters and enhanced crisis management, secured third place, winning 5,000 euros.
A Sustainable Future Through Technology is Possible
The Greece-Türkiye Hackathon 2025 was not only a competition but also a platform where the youth of both countries came together to innovate, share technology, and develop joint solutions. Participants not only developed projects but also established cross-border friendships and collaborations.
