X-Hack

In the fall of 2018, a pilot hack was conducted around a number of focus areas, XR technology, smart information flows, smart cities and IoT. Where the participants were allowed to collaborate in interdisciplinary groups during a day with the opportunity to stay overnight. A creative process that provided solutions and collaborations that formed the basis for the continued development of the concept. Participants came from both one-man companies and major consulting companies. Academics and public actors were also represented. The presentation provided positive feedback, and discussions are already underway about using the program even outside the framework of the X-hackathon. With the pilot as a starting point, a more focused concept was then created, focusing on technology.

During the spring of 2019, we conducted 2 hackathons in Gävle with different technical teams. The first was about blockchain technology and was implemented with the help of Fujitsu Sweden. Developers from participating companies tested to code in the “Hyper ledger fabric” to solve a given traffic flow challenge.
The second Hackathon in Gävle focused on the Internet of Things, heavily influenced by GCE NODE’s hack in Norway. During the hackathon, MXChip used an IoT development platform adapted for Microsoft Azure in order to quickly access real-time data from a number of sensors. 4 ideas and solutions from as many groups emerged from this process, the week after the hack one of the participants had also developed another solution. The participants represented both large companies and start-ups.

The regional incubator Movexum also participated in the hack as an observer and they belive that future hack will be able to produce positive effects. Where products and services can be incubated in the incubator and companies that need expertise in technology can get project support from FPX. A positive synergy effect that was not anticipated before the project.

During the project we have visited GCE NODE in Kristiansand 2 times. A visit in common with the Latvian IT cluster where a visit to the cluster in Kristiansand and a visit to Mechatronics lab in Grimstad were conducted. The second visit to NODE was carried out in conjunction with their first Hackathon, where IoT was the focus and 5 companies connected to GCE NODE participated. For this Hackathon we had also invited Sigma Energy & Marine from the Offshore cluster, unfortunately their participants fell ill at the last minute and could not participate in the Hackathon in Kristiansand.
A visit to Riga and the Latvian IT cluster was conducted, focusing on experience / cluster exchange and future plans for Hackathons as a concept. Latvian IT demo centers were also visited and talks on joint initiatives were held.