Participation rules · III Circular Innovation Hackathon

The III Circular Innovation Hackathon is an intensive 24-hour innovation competition aimed at vocational education and training students in the Balearic Islands.

It is an initiative promoted by IMPULSA BALEARS, deployed within the framework of reN · Balear Circular Hub and jointly organised with the Centre for Training, Innovation and Development of Vocational Education and Training (CFINFP). Its aim is to connect VET students’ talent with real challenges set by companies committed to the circular transition of the Balearic Islands.

This third edition will involve 6 companies, each of which will set 1 real circular challenge. In total, participants will work on 6 challenges linked to the priority areas of action defined in the Roadmap towards a circular tourism system in the Balearic Islands. Horizon 2025–2035.

During the competition, participating teams must develop creative, feasible and applicable solutions that help move towards a circular tourism system.

The competition is open to students aged 18 or over who are enrolled in a vocational education and training programme at public or publicly funded centres in the Balearic Islands

Participants should be able to work in teams, generate creative ideas and develop solutions from different fields, including digital technologies, data analysis and visualisation, communication, marketing, design, sustainability, business feasibility and technical application.

Participants must register individually. The organisers will form the working teams, which will preferably consist of 5 participants.

The competition will offer up to 150 places, distributed across 30 working teams.

Participants will be selected by the CFINFP according to the following criteria:

• suitability of profiles for the proposed challenges;
• diversity of vocational training programmes;
• geographical diversity;
• representation of different education centres;
• balance of skills within the teams;
• motivation and interest in circular innovation.

Selected students will receive confirmation of participation by email, using the address provided in the registration form.

4.a Before the competition

The organisers will offer two information sessions and open consultation channels so that participants can better understand the competition dynamics, resolve doubts and prepare properly.

This support will include:

• information on how the hackathon works;
• a general explanation of the circular areas to be addressed;
• guidance on teamwork and solution development;
• recommendations for preparing the final pitch;
• answers to practical questions.

4.b During the competition

The organisers will support participants through three mentors for each of the challenges proposed. These mentors will be vocational education and training teachers who have received specific training and have experience in this type of competition.

This support will include:

• guidance on teamwork and solution developments;
• recommendations for preparing the final pitch;
• answers to practical questions.

The 6 participating companies will be responsible for defining the 6 circular challenges that teams will work on.

Each company will set a challenge linked to real needs, opportunities or challenges related to the circular transition of the Balearic Islands.

Each challenge will be related to one of the 6 priority areas of action defined in the Roadmap towards a circular tourism system in the Balearic Islands. Horizon 2025–2035:

• Water
• Energy
• Materials
• Food
• Mobility

• Land-sea territory

Each team must develop a proposal that explains:

• what solution it proposes;
• who it is intended for;
• how it could be applied;
• what resources, tools or partnerships would be needed;
• what environmental, social or economic impact it could generate.

At the end of the competition, teams will present their solution to a jury.

The III Circular Innovation Hackathon will take place on 3 and 4 November 2026.

Tuesday, 3 November

Wednesday, November 4

The organisers may make adjustments to the programme to ensure the smooth running of the competition.

The jury will assess the proposals according to the following criteria:

Particular value will be placed on solutions that are clear, original, realistic and connected to the challenge set by the company.

The jury’s decision will be final.

The competition will recognise the best solutions presented for each of the 6 challenges proposed.

There will be 6 awards, one for each challenge, for the 6 winning teams.

Each winning team will receive:

• a cash prize wortht 1,000 euros;
• a certificate recognizing the team as a winner;
• and support in disseminating its solution through the competition’s channels and those of the participating companies.

Participation in the competition is free of charge.

All participants must complete the registration form individually.

The organisers will form the teams in order to ensure a balanced composition suited to the challenges proposed.

Participants undertake to:

• attend the scheduled activities;
• participate actively in the team’s work;
• respect the timetable and the organisers’ instructions;
• make proper use of the spaces, materials and resources available;
• present an original proposal;
• respect the other participants, mentors, companies and members of the organisation.

Teams may use digital tools, data analysis applications, design tools, communication and marketing tools, and artificial intelligence to develop their proposals.

These tools must be used responsibly and always in compliance with:

• applicable regulations;
• intellectual property rights;
• the licence terms of the software used;
• personal data protection requirements;
• the originality of the proposal submitted. 

Any datasets used must be publicly available or used with the necessary permissions.

Each team must be able to explain clearly how it developed its proposal and what tools it used. When a team uses artificial intelligence, it must state this in the final presentation or in the documentation submitted, briefly specifying which tools were used and for what purpose.

The solutions developed by participating teams in response to each challenge will become the property of the company that set the corresponding challenge, without prejudice to the recognition of the authorship of the participating team within the framework of the competition.

This transfer will allow the company to analyse, develop, adapt, implement or scale the solution, in whole or in part, without requiring any subsequent authorisation from the participants.

Participation in the hackathon implies express acceptance of this transfer of rights over the solutions submitted.

The solutions submitted must be original and must not infringe any intellectual property, industrial property, image rights or any other rights belonging to third parties.

The organisers and participating companies may disseminate the solutions submitted, as well as the names of the winning teams, through communication channels, social media, promotional materials and actions linked to the dissemination of the hackathon.

The organisers will provide meals for participants during the competition.

Accommodation will also be provided to participants, in accordance with the conditions established by the organisers. The CFINFP will allocate participants to the corresponding rooms according to organisational criteria. Participants must respect the accommodation rules and use the facilities responsibly.

To facilitate the participation of students from Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, the organisers will establish transport support, according to the criteria and budget availability to be determined. Participants from Mallorca must travel by their own means.

Participants must respect the confidentiality of the information shared by companies, mentors and the organisers during the competition.

The personal data provided during the registration process will be used exclusively for managing the competition and communicating with participants, in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.

During the event, images, videos and audiovisual recordings may be captured for dissemination through communication channels, social media and promotional materials linked to the hackathon.

Registration for the competition implies acceptance of these conditions, without prejudice to the rights that participants may have under applicable regulations.

The III Circular Innovation Hackathon aims to guarantee a safe, respectful, inclusive and learning-oriented environment

Offensive, discriminatory, threatening or violent behaviour, or any behaviour that interferes with the normal running of the activity, will not be tolerated.

Participants undertake to:

• maintain a respectful attitude towards all participants;
• contribute to a positive and inclusive working environment;
• respect the opinions and contributions of other team members;
• follow the organisers’ instructions;
• not interfere with the work of other teams;
• not misuse spaces, materials or resources;
• not consume alcohol or drugs during the competition;
• comply with the rules of the accommodation and the spaces provided;
• respect all applicable laws.

Failure to comply with the code of conduct may result in immediate expulsion from the competition and the inability to participate in future activities organised by IMPULSA BALEARS and the CFINFP.

If any damage is caused to the facilities, participants undertake to cover any costs that may arise.

Registration for the III Circular Innovation Hackathon implies full acceptance of these participation rules.

The organisers reserve the right to interpret these rules and resolve any matter not provided for herein, always in accordance with the aims of the competition and the principles of transparency, equality and proper functioning of the event.