Beyond Borders Hackathon

Università della Svizzera italiana is happy to host the Beyond Borders Hackathon: exploring Insubria and other cultural corridors through digital heritage collections. A full day of creativity, collaboration, and innovation dedicated to exploring how digital storytelling can enhance heritage tourism.

Hosted at the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in Lugano, this hackathon brings together university students and young digital creators passionate about digital cultural heritage, social sciences and humanities, cultural promotion, and sustainable tourism.

Each team will deliver a creative proposal using the vast collection available on the Europeana website, inspired by SECreTour’s mission to promote sustainable, engaging and creative tourism as a driver for a better future in rural and remote area.

Applications should be submitted by 8th October 2025.

Selected applications will be communicated by 13th October 2025.

1st, 2nd and 3rd places will be awarded, respectively: 1st place: 300 chf; 2nd place 200 chf; 3rd place: 100 chf. Additionally, the three winning teams will collaborate with experts from the organising partners to showcase their work in Europeana, on Photoconsortium website, in the dedicated space of SECreTour hosted by digitalmeetsculture.net magazine and promoted by the two UNESCO Chairs.

Each participant will receive a Certification of Participation in the Hackathon. A flat reimbursement will also be made available to participants.

AGENDA

For further details and application instructions, please visit the official event page.

An initiative by Photoconsortium, SECreTour project, Europeana, UNESCO Chair of the Università della Svizzera italiana in ICT to develop and promote sustainable tourism in world heritage sites and UNESCO Chair of the Università di Genova in Anthropology of Health, Biosphere and Healing Systems.