The international PORTATHON 2026 hackathon, organised by Klaipeda Science and Technology Park and Klaipeda University, concluded in Klaipeda on Sunday after bringing together participants from more than 10 countries. Over 48 hours, 120 participants working in 18 teams developed solutions to current challenges facing ports and industry. The top ideas focused on reducing the need for dredging at the Port of La Rochelle, improving incident management at Klaipėda Free Economic Zone and creating demand for green hydrogen at the Port of Klaipeda. The total prize fund amounted to EUR 5,000.
“I am proud to see talent, business, science and the innovation community coming together in Klaipeda. The annual international PORTATHON hackathon is a place where innovation takes shape as innovators meet challenge owners. Participants form teams, create, experiment and search for solutions with the potential to make a difference not only in Klaipeda, but across Lithuania.
“We feel strong support for the development of the startup environment from innovation policymakers and the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation. Following this hackathon, we are already planning even more intensive and valuable initiatives in biotechnology and dual-use technologies. I invite innovators and representatives of innovative companies to get in touch, as we can provide support ranging from idea development and finding technology partners to preparing for investment and market entry,” says Giedrius Janušauskas, Head of Development and Acting Director of Klaipeda Science and Technology Park.
First place went to Klaipeda University team KU.exe, which chose the BlueSediments challenge proposed by the Port of La Rochelle. The team’s solution combines a system designed to capture sediment entering the port basin with data collection that could enable more accurate forecasting of sediment accumulation in the future. Such a solution could help reduce the need for frequent and costly dredging – an issue also relevant to the Port of Klaipeda.
Second-place team FEZ Guard developed a prototype platform for Klaipėda Free Economic Zone to support the management of industrial incidents and emergency situations. The prototype was designed to operate under emergency conditions, including in autonomous mode and using secure communication protocols.
The system is intended to strengthen the resilience of the industrial park and help ensure business continuity for companies operating within the zone.
Third-place winners CFDP tackled the Port of Klaipeda challenge related to the use of green hydrogen and the development of demand across its value chain. The team proposed a concept involving a hydrogen-powered shunting locomotive and hydrogen trucks as one possible way to create real demand for green hydrogen in the transport sector.
No ready-made answers at a hackathon
First-place winners KU.exe selected the La Rochelle challenge because of its relevance to the Port of Klaipeda and the opportunity to approach the problem from an engineering perspective.
“It is fun and definitely worth trying – a hackathon requires a completely different way of thinking. During lectures, you often solve a problem where the answer is already known. Here, there is no known answer. If you find something others have not thought of yet, it can become genuinely valuable,” says KU.exe team member Saulė.
According to her, the mentors’ greatest contribution over the weekend was helping the team refine its idea step by step – from the direction of the proposed solution to the way it was presented. Particularly valuable were insights from mentors who encounter the challenges being addressed in their everyday work.
The team believes that the solution proposed for the Port of La Rochelle could be developed further, although the next steps would require research, simulations and cooperation with the port itself.
Creative solutions can surprise challenge owners too
Business and port representatives who presented challenges at PORTATHON see hackathons as more than just a way to generate new ideas within a short period of time.
“We take part in events like this because, first of all, they create dialogue between the city, business and academic institutions. They are a form of partnership between communities and organisations. There is also a practical element – we want to find solutions. Very creative people come here, and sometimes we receive a completely different solution from the one we expected,” says Virginija Ketlerienė, Commercial Project Manager at the Port of Klaipeda.
According to her, events like PORTATHON also help attract researchers, innovators, talent and young professionals to Klaipeda.
Karlas Impinnisi, Innovation Project Manager at Klaipėda Free Economic Zone, also sees the value of hackathons in the working habits and mindset they help develop among young people.
“Hackathons are worth taking part in because this community produces talent that will have to lead not only us, but Lithuania as a whole, into the future. It is therefore important to have a place where people can practise and get used to the principle: there is a problem – we sit down and solve it,” says K. Impinnisi.
48 hours to test and refine ideas
Throughout the weekend, the teams worked with an international group of mentors who helped participants test their ideas, identify weaknesses and prepare for the final pitches. Mentors highlighted the teams’ energy and motivation, as well as their improved public-speaking skills.
The teams’ progress was also followed by representatives of the business and investment community. PORTATHON was visited by Viktorija Trimbel, CEO of Coinvest Capital, who met the teams and learned more about their developing solutions during the interim presentations.
PORTATHON 2026 was held under the patronage of Minister of the Economy and Innovation Edvinas Grikšas.
The event was organised by Klaipeda Science and Technology Park together with Klaipeda University through EU-CONEXUS ENABLES.
The organisers of PORTATHON 2026 thank the event’s sponsors and partners whose support contributed to the success of the international hackathon: Klaipėda Free Economic Zone, Klaipeda State Seaport Authority, UAB Vėjų spektras, Octohide VPN, Lithuanian Maritime Cluster, DEEP Ecosystems and Schneider Electric.
PORTATHON will return to Klaipeda in 2027.
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