Tech-Athon 2023 was aimed at doctoral students of the Warsaw University of Technology but teams could also invite guests – experts from outside the University. The teams were supposed to propose innovative solutions in the field of biomedical engineering, photonic technology, cybersecurity and data science or energy storage and conversion. These are a few of the priority research areas developed within the project "Excellence Initiative – Research University" (IDUB), conducted at the Warsaw University of Technology. This project provided funding for prizes for the best teams.

Tech-Athon consisted of a few stages: applications, kick-off meeting, setting up the teams, coming up with solutions and working on them, workshops and at the end, the final – presentation of the concept before the jury. Importantly, the concepts were consulted with business and scientific mentors who are experienced in technology transfer and launching scientific ideas onto the market.

The event was organised by the WUT Doctoral School, WUT Innovations Centre and WUT Centre for Advanced Materials and Technologies CEZAMAT.

During the Tech-Athon final, which took place at CEZAMAT, 10 teams presented their ideas.

– I am very happy that so many doctoral students from our University decided to take part in this event - said Professor Adam Woźniak, WUT Vice-Rector for Development. – At the Warsaw University of Technology we have a number of special programmes that support innovativeness and start-ups. Tech-Athon is one of them.

The jury comprising: Professor Mariusz Malinowski – WUT Vice-Rector for Research (chairperson), Professor Zbigniew Brzózka, Professor Piotr Lesiak, Professor Robert Olszewski, Professor Agnieszka Skala-Gosk, Professor Bartłomiej Ufnalski, decided to award five projects.

The first joint place was taken by two teams: pd meds for Notos – a solution using simple tools and gamification to support pulmonary rehabilitation and QPI4MED for a tool supporting treatment of cancer through non-invasive fast and cheap monitoring of personalized treatment plans CAR-T – the most advanced and modern form of immunotherapy. These teams were awarded PLN 80 000 each for development research on their projects.

The third place and PLN 60 000 was awarded to the team Hydrogenius, which prepared an innovative system for e-fuel synthesis.

The jury also decided to award two distinctions: PulseLayers for a solution allowing to shorten the rehabilitation period after a limb fracture thanks to the use of printed electrostimulation layers and 3D Hand for a myoelectric hand prosthetic which can "grow" with the child. These teams were awarded PLN 30 000 each.

– I am truly happy that the Warsaw University of Technology is home to an event like Tech-Athon – said WUT Vice-Rector for Research Professor Mariusz Malinowski, during the prize award ceremony. – I congratulate all teams since all presentations were very interesting and I wish you further success.

Now the winning teams are in for a few months of intensive work – so that during the Demo Day, planned for spring 2024, they can present how they developed their projects.