The University of Burgos (UBU), in collaboration with SODEBUR, regional stakeholders, is organising the RUN‑EU Innothon Merindades 2026, an Innovation Hackathon focused on developing smart and sustainable solutions for rural communities.

The event will take place on 26 and 27 February 2026 in Villarcayo (Spain) at CEDER Merindades. It will bring together university students, vocational training students, and secondary school pupils from local VET and HSS centres to collaborate on real‑world challenges within the theme ‘Smart Cities, Smart Villages’.

During this two-day collaborative experience, participants will work in multidisciplinary teams using the Design Thinking methodology to identify local needs, generate innovative ideas, prototype solutions, and present their proposals to a professional jury. This format encourages creativity, teamwork, leadership, and entrepreneurial thinking, while promoting sustainable development and social cohesion in rural areas.

UBU students will mentor mixed teams, facilitate knowledge exchange, and strengthen cooperation among academia, local institutions, and the community. The most innovative and impactful proposals will be recognised with awards for creativity, feasibility, and social impact.

This Innothon is one of the 10 to be held at each partner university as part of the FILS sub-strand.

Beyond the competition, the RUN‑EU Innothon Merindades 2026 gives participants a chance to build future-ready skills, connect across disciplines, and contribute to turning rural areas into smart, resilient, and sustainable communities.

RUN-EU Innothon Merindades 2026
Innovation Hackathon for Smart Villages

Date
26 & 27 February 2026

Time
9h30 – 15h00

Mode
Face-to-Face, in Villarcayo, Spain

Target group
Pre-university and university students from local VET centres and High Secondary School (HSS).

Previous knowledge required
No previous knowledge/experience is required.

Who can apply
Students from the University of Burgos and participating local VET and HSS centres

Coordination
UBU, Spain
SODEBUR
CEDER Merindades