Hackathon Weekend 2025 Italy: Young minds shaping the Future of Work with Inclusion
Two days of creativity, teamwork, and inclusive innovation powered by AI.
The Hackathon Weekend 2025 brought together more than 70 upper secondary students from across Italy—with over 70% girls—to explore how Artificial Intelligence can help make tomorrow’s workplaces fairer, more accessible, and truly collaborative.
Working in small, multidisciplinary teams and guided by mentors, participants responded to the theme “Future of Work with Inclusion.” Their goal: to turn ideas into prototypes that use AI to reduce bias, remove barriers, and support collaboration.
From ideas to impact
Following an initial online preparation, the Hackathon unfolded in four main phases: ideation, design, prototyping, and presentation. Each team focused on one of three real-life challenge directions proposed by the partner companies:
- Equal Hiring — tackling bias and promoting fairness in recruitment.
- Accessible Workspaces — making digital tools and environments more inclusive.
- Team Harmony — strengthening collaboration across diverse or hybrid teams.
Blending design thinking, problem-solving, and human-centred innovation, students demonstrated technical skill, empathy, and creativity—turning AI into a tool for inclusion rather than exclusion.
Innovative ideas from schools across Italy
Ten teams presented projects addressing concrete workplace challenges with imaginative AI solutions—ranging from tools that translate technical language to improve teamwork, to systems that make corporate communication accessible to people with disabilities, and platforms that promote fairer recruitment by recognising each person’s real skills and experiences.
Winning Team: Debugging Divas from ITS “Einaudi” in Correggio (RE)
Prototype: Project D.I.V.A. – Dynamic Inclusive Virtual Assistant, a digital assistant that personalises a device’s user interface based on each user’s needs and preferences—an elegant idea that embodies the spirit of inclusion through AI.
Collaboration that empowers
The event showcased what happens when schools, businesses, and innovation hubs come together with a shared purpose: education that empowers. Although no monetary prizes were awarded, recognition focused on learning, creativity, and teamwork.
The Ambassador Hackathon Weekend 2025 title went to Debugging Divas, while special mentions from the companies celebrated projects with outstanding social impact, accessibility, storytelling, and use of Artificial Intelligence. All participants received official certificates, event t-shirts, and Hackathon gadgets as a reminder of their shared journey.
A collective success
The Hackathon Weekend proved once again that young people—when given trust and the right context—can imagine real solutions to complex global challenges. The level of reflection, collaboration, and empathy exceeded all expectations. Every team demonstrated that the future of work will be brighter, fairer, and more inclusive.
