Wilo Türkiye Invites Young Innovators to Design the Future of Water

Wilo Türkiye has opened applications for its Water AI Hackathon 2026, bringing together the company’s expertise in water technologies with artificial intelligence and the innovative perspectives of young talent. The program invites university students to develop the water management solutions of the future for smart cities and smart buildings, with the final scheduled to take place in Istanbul on December 5, 2026.

Continuing its work in the field of water technologies, Wilo Türkiye is launching Water AI Hackathon 2026 in collaboration with social innovation platform imece to support young people in developing ideas that could help shape the future of smart water systems.

Organized under the motto “Design the Future of Water,” the program will provide a platform for developing innovative, AI-powered solutions in the fields of water, energy efficiency, sustainability and digital transformation.

The Future of Water Systems Will Be Shaped by Young Minds

Wilo Water AI Hackathon 2026 will be open to university students studying mechanical engineering, computer engineering, industrial engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, and environmental engineering, as well as artificial intelligence, data science, management information systems and business administration.

Bringing together students from different disciplines around a common goal, the program will offer participants the opportunity to develop sustainable and practical solutions to real-world infrastructure needs.

Following the application and evaluation process, selected teams will take part in bootcamps and have the opportunity to work with Wilo executives and expert mentors from the fields of technology, engineering, sustainability and business development.

Awards for Projects Shaping the Future of Water

As part of the program, finalist teams will work on predefined challenges and develop practical, innovative and value-creating solutions focused on people and quality of life, with the aim of improving water flow in cities and water management across urban infrastructure.

On December 5, 2026, the finalist teams will further develop their ideas with support from mentors during a one-day innovation marathon in Istanbul before presenting their projects to a jury.

Projects will be evaluated according to criteria including innovation, feasibility, sustainability impact, the quality of AI integration, business potential and presentation quality.

The winning teams of Water AI Hackathon 2026 will receive a range of awards. All members of the first-place team will receive a trip to Wilopark in Germany, while members of the second-place team will each receive a TRY 30,000 gift voucher and members of the third-place team will each receive a TRY 15,000 gift voucher.

All participants selected for the final will also have access to mentoring, career networking opportunities and the chance to meet Wilo experts.

Applications Open Until October 30, 2026

Students wishing to participate in Water AI Hackathon 2026 can apply only in teams of three or four people. Teams can submit their applications together with their project ideas via Wilo Türkiye’s website until the October 30, 2026 application deadline.

Following the evaluation process, the teams selected for the final will be announced on November 12, 2026, through Wilo Türkiye’s website and social media channels. The final and award ceremony will be held in person on December 5, 2026.

imece, which brings together different stakeholders to support transformation focused on social and environmental impact, will serve as Wilo’s solution partner throughout the hackathon. The platform will contribute to designing the program process, supporting participants and helping teams further develop their solution ideas.