{"id":14520,"date":"2025-07-14T12:51:06","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T12:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbanlab.univie.ac.at\/?p=14520"},"modified":"2026-02-02T09:39:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T09:39:27","slug":"urban-research-to-practice-science-for-policy-hackathon-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbanlab.univie.ac.at\/en\/urban-research-to-practice-science-for-policy-hackathon-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Urban Research to Practice: Science for Policy Hackathon 2025\/26"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”Urban Research to Practice: Science for Policy Hackathon 2025\/26″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”14527″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”link_image”][vc_column_text]In the winter term 2025\/26, the Urban Sustainability Living Lab (USLL) in collaboration with UniVie Innovation Team<\/a> and City of Vienna offered a new course on Urban Research to Practice. <\/em><\/strong>This course was open to Master Students from many different disciplines and included lecture units, a 2-day hackathon and a final pitch event.<\/p>\n

The goal of this Urban Research to Practice<\/em><\/strong> format is to encourage Master students to further develop inter-and transdisciplinary skills and apply their expertise in a real-world policy context of the City of Vienna. Participants also gain an in-depth understanding of the development of science-based policies in general and relevant structures and processes in the City of Vienna in particular, as well as insights into career paths and professional fields related to Science for Policy.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner disable_element=”yes”][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Join us for the Final Pitch Event of this year\u2019s \u201cUrban Research to Practice – Science for Policy Hackathon“” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_custom_heading text=”and discover bold, science-driven policy ideas from the interdisciplinary student teams” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]At Pitch Day, the teams will showcase their recommendations for tackling some of today\u2019s most pressing urban challenges; from green space development and multifunctional public areas to climate education. After four months of intensive collaboration, they\u2019re ready to reveal their final policy briefs. An expert jury featuring representatives from the Environment & Climate Research Hub<\/a>, the City of Vienna, and\u00a0SDG Watch Austria<\/a>\u00a0will evaluate the pitches and announce the two winning teams.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also get the chance to learn more about how the City of Vienna partners with research to shape its sustainability agenda, the\u00a0Urban Sustainability Living Lab<\/a>, and the new green innovation labs at the University of Vienna.[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Event Details” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]\u2022 January 15, 2026<\/p>\n

\u2022 16:30 \u2013 19:30<\/p>\n

\u2022 Nordbahnsaal, die HausWirtschaft, Bruno-Marek-Allee 5\/1, 1020 Vienna<\/p>\n

The main programme will be followed by drinks and snacks[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner disable_element=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Invitation:” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]

Invitation_Pitch-Event<\/a><\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Sign up here:” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_raw_html]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[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”n” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”What is a Hackathon?” tab_id=”1770024770081-17aafa38-ddaa”][vc_column_text]A hackathon is an intensive, collaborative event, usually lasting two to three days, during which interdisciplinary teams work together to develop solutions to concrete problems. The term combines \u201chack\u201d and \u201cmarathon\u201d and typically refers to the rapid creation of software prototypes or other innovative (often digital) solutions. At the end of a hackathon, teams present their results to a jury, and the best contributions are usually awarded.<\/p>\n

The Urban Research to Practice course builds on this format but shifts the focus from technical products to policy-oriented solutions for urban challenges. It is embedded in the University of Vienna\u2019s broader efforts to strengthen capacity building and engagement at the science-policy interface. A first Science for Policy Hackathon<\/a> was held in 2024\/25 as an extracurricular offer for students and PhD candidates. Based on this experience, the format has now been further developed and integrated into the formal teaching course “Urban Research to Practice: Science for Policy Hackathon<\/a>“.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Why is Urban Research to Practice important?” tab_id=”1752497267743-b2762dbe-e480″][vc_column_text]Cities like Vienna are confronted with increasingly complex challenges, such as adapting to the increasing severity and number of heatwaves, mitigating further climate change through drastically reducing carbon emissions in transport and housing, and protecting and increasing biodiversity.<\/p>\n

Transdisciplinary research and engagement with different urban stakeholders such as policymakers, local administration, professional practitioners and residents is needed to collectively understand these complex challenges as well as develop possible solutions to address them. In the field of science to policy, research plays a crucial role by providing evidence that helps decision-makers develop targeted policy measures as well as evaluate the potential outcomes of their actions.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What are the challenges?” tab_id=”1756979626769-653eaa74-beb4″][vc_column_text]The following challenges are addressed in this year\u00b4s course:<\/p>\n

Multifunctional Public Spaces (supported by MA18 – Urban Development and Planning)<\/strong>
\nWhat if parking spots become places for people, not cars? This challenge is about re-imagining Vienna\u2019s streets by turning single-use parking spaces into multifunctional public areas that bring neighbourhoods together and encourage active mobility. You\u2018ll study successful examples of upgraded parking spaces and identify implementation barriers in Vienna and other cities, before proposing bold policies that re-imagine and develop multifunctional, public streetscapes across the city.<\/p>\n

Green Spaces for People & <\/strong>Nature (supported by MA22 – Environmental Protection)<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>How can Vienna connect its green spaces to benefit both inhabitants and ecosystems?\u00a0This challenge asks you to dive into strategies for resilient, interconnected green spaces.\u00a0From biodiversity rich corridors and the barriers that prevent their development to digital monitoring tools, and shared stewardship, you\u2019ll explore how to balance ecological health with social well-being, and shape green spaces that strengthen communities and regenerate environments.<\/p>\n

Empowering Climate Action (supported by Director\u00b4s Office for Climate Affairs)<\/strong>
\nHow can continuous learning inspire citizens to take meaningful climate action?\u00a0<\/strong>This challenge focuses on how to make climate education continuous, inclusive and innovative – empowering people across all demographics. You\u2019ll explore how neighborhoods, schools online platforms, and community initiatives can co-create knowledge and build a culture of continuous learning across Vienna that drives climate action.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What is expected from the participants?” tab_id=”1752497267762-5e57239c-64c2″][vc_column_text]The programme consists of two parts: a one-semester course (October \u2013 December), and a two-day Hackathon followed by a pitch (January). For the hackathon, students will work in interdisciplinary teams to develop strategies to address one of the thematic topics and the specified challenges provided by the City of Vienna. The challenges should be addressed in full or in part by referring to current research findings, information provided by the city, relevant local, national and international strategies and policies, and international good practices.<\/p>\n

To achieve this, the hackathon follows a weekly course offered by the USLL (October to December), which focuses on building the knowledge and skills to analyse specific urban challenges. The course will train students in transdisciplinary skills and support \u00a0in establishing contact with the relevant Departments and experts at the City of Vienna, as well as provide them with expert inputs on policy making.<\/p>\n

The hackathon itself will last for twodays, during which policy briefs and corresponding pitches will be developed. Here, the students will be supported by an expert in research based policy-making, as well as by experts by the City of Vienna.<\/p>\n

The developed policy briefs will be pitched to a jury. The selected winners will present their pitch to a large audience during the lectures series \u201cFrom Knowledge to Practice\u201d<\/a> (Ringvorlesung \u201cVom Wissen zum Handeln\u201d) organised by the University of Vienna\u00b4s Environment and Climate Hub.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”All dates & locations at a glance” tab_id=”1752497336710-f4bb15ea-0557″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n