Press release: URBIS CHALLENGE HackaTEEN knows its winners

"One of the main tasks of modern education is to educate young people who not only react to the world around them but actively shape it. HackaTEEN is a great example of how students can take initiative, seek solutions to real problems, and develop skills that will be key to their future careers. We need more opportunities like this that make supporting pupil and student initiative a natural part of the education system," said Education Minister Mikulas Bek.

Students worked on problem-solving in five key areas: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies, New Materials and Technologies, Creativity and Urban Vibrancy, Ecology and Environment, and Mobility.

"It is not enough for young people to just use technology. We need a generation that knows how to create, improve, and use them smartly. Events like this one show that by combining education with practice and real challenges, we can awaken the young generation's interest in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. This is exactly the direction we need to take as a country," said Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček.

The jury, consisting of experts in the field of SMART CITY, public administration and technology, and representatives of the event partners - Thermo Fisher Scientific, Komerční banka, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports - had the difficult task of selecting the top five best projects, which were then publicly presented by the students at the fair.

"Supporting the young generation, technical education in the region, and developing the quality of teaching is a key value for us. That's why we cheer on projects that prove that technical fields can be a way to change the world for the better. HackaTEEN is exactly the type of event that brings such motivation - it connects schools, innovation, and real challenges," says Petr Střelec, Director of the Brno branch of Thermo Fisher Scientific.

The first place went to the City in Motion team from the Bosonožská Primary School in Brno. They won with a project of an accompanying drone that increases the feeling of safety in the city. Citizens can summon the drone using a mobile app, and it will accompany them through high-risk areas, for example, when walking through a park at night. The drone can detect dangerous situations, activate sirens, contact the emergency services, and transmit its exact location. They will be rewarded with a visit to the Smart City Expo World Congress Barcelona 2025 International Fair and Conference. The prize includes tickets to the fair, flights and accommodation for the whole team.

Second place went to the Jihogympláci team from the Gymnasium Český Krumlov. The team presented the project "Stepping to Energy" - piezoelectric tiles installed in busy places in cities to produce green energy using human steps. This can power urban infrastructure, such as information boards or police electric cars. The first site is to be a pedestrian zone in Český Krumlov.

The team Meui Creative, SPŠ, and VOŠ Liberec, took third place for its ambition to turn Liberec into the first truly smart city in the Czech Republic. They came up with a complex system for smart management of lighting, waste, and traffic. The project brings energy savings, reduces light smog, and speeds up rescue interventions. Thanks to European subsidies, it has a payback period of just two months and the potential to save lives.

The EKO Gymnasium Brno with its project of smart benches and the team from the Dr. Karel Polesny Gymnasium in Znojmo, which came up with a solution for hot city squares in the form of adding greenery, also made it into the Top 5 ideas. The jury's special prize for strong vision was awarded to the Zdravoťáci team from the Secondary Medical School and Higher Vocational School of Health in Znojmo for their design of a microchip for monitoring blood values and promoting prevention.

"HackaTEEN was exceptional not only in the number of participants but also in the energy they put into their projects. Over two intense days - and for some, nights - over 100 children and students from across the country worked on SMART ideas to solve real problems in their cities. I am delighted that we were able to create a space where young people's ideas are given real meaning. I firmly believe that some of them will improve our lives in the near future," said Dagmar Peřinová, Head of the Participation Team at JINAG and the main organizer of the event.

HackaTEEN wasn't just about competing. Participants gained valuable experience in teamwork, project management, and presenting their ideas.

Contact person:
Dagmar Peřinová
participation team leader
Email: dagmar.perinova@jinag.eu
tel.: +420 606 551 509

Download the full press release HERE