HackCarpathia 2026: nearly 500 young innovators and SSE EURO‑PARK MIELEC as an Event Partner.

Event

On 18–20 April 2026, Rzeszów – supported by local qualifying rounds in Mielec and Krosno – became a hub of cutting‑edge technologies, innovation and creative collaboration among young creators from Poland and abroad. All thanks to HackCarpathia 2026, one of the largest and fastest‑growing hackathons in the region, in which the EURO‑PARK MIELEC Special Economic Zone, managed by the Industrial Development Agency JSC (ARP S.A.), participated as an Event Partner.

This year’s edition was record‑breaking – both in terms of the number of participants and in its thematic and geographical reach.

New format and record participation

HackCarpathia 2026 attracted nearly 500 participants – secondary school pupils, students and young technology professionals who spent dozens of hours working on solutions that address real economic and social challenges.

A new feature of the 2026 edition were local qualifying rounds, which were held, among others, in:

  • Mielec (Technical Schools Complex),
  • Krosno (State Academy of Applied Sciences).

This formula made it possible to reach young talents even more widely across the region, strengthening local educational and technology communities.

Thematic areas – technology serving real‑world needs

Participants worked in four main categories:

  • MedTech,
  • Cybersecurity,
  • AeroTech (aviation and the industry of the future),
  • Open (open track).

Teams tackled challenges prepared by the event’s partners, focusing on solutions that could be implemented in practice rather than on purely theoretical concepts.

Final gala at the Wanda Siemaszkowa Theatre

The highlight of HackCarpathia 2026 was the final gala, held on 20 April at the Wanda Siemaszkowa Theatre in Rzeszów. The best teams presented their projects to the jury and the audience, after which the winners in each category were announced.

Representatives of ARP and SSE EURO‑PARK MIELEC played an important role during the final gala:

  • Director Wiktor Cichoń sat on the jury and welcomed the event’s participants and guests,
  • Mariusz Mądry (ARP) presented the award in the Cybersecurity category during an earlier part of the hackathon programme.

Winners of HackCarpathia 2026

A jury composed of experts from business, technology and education selected the winners:

  • Overall winner of HackCarpathia 2026 / MedTech
    The CombAIns (Warsaw University of Technology) – “Bądź Gotowa” (“Be Ready”), an app supporting health education for teenage girls
  • Cybersecurity
    SEIS – “Coup de grâs” (Electrical and General Education Schools Complex in Krosno)
  • AeroTech
    AERIS – “TechForge” (Technical Schools Complex in Mielec)
  • Open
    SkibdiTek – “CashStack” (Technische Universität Ilmenau)

Why does SSE EURO‑PARK MIELEC support HackCarpathia?

SSE EURO‑PARK MIELEC’s involvement in HackCarpathia 2026 is in line with its mission of bridging education, technology and industry. The event:

  • supports the development of future skills that are crucial for a modern economy,
  • promotes young talents ready to work in high‑tech sectors,
  • strengthens the region’s human capital and its investment attractiveness,
  • demonstrates how innovative ideas can translate into practical solutions for business and industry.

HackCarpathia is more than just a hackathon – it is a space where future project teams, start‑ups and technologies are born, which in the coming years may go on to power companies operating also within the EURO‑PARK MIELEC Special Economic Zone.

Building the region’s future together

The record‑breaking 2026 edition of HackCarpathia once again showed the tremendous potential of young innovators and the crucial role of cooperation between public institutions, the education sector and business.

SSE EURO‑PARK MIELEC consistently supports initiatives that have a tangible impact on the development of skills, technologies and the region’s competitiveness – today and in the years to come.