Hackathon InnoFusion unites students and industry to foster innovation
The University of Zagreb Faculty of Organization and Informatics (UNIZG FOI) hosted the grand finale of the OTP & FOI Hackathon 'InnoFusion' today, where the winners were announced, and prizes awarded in the newly equipped laboratory classroom. The refurbishment and modernization of this classroom were made possible through a strategic partnership with OTP Bank.
Innovative solutions to bridge students with opportunities
Organized by the FOI Student Union and Business Club with the support of the Student Support and Career Development Center and OTP Bank, the InnoFusion Hackathon gathered interdisciplinary student teams who spent three weeks developing innovative solutions to connect students with business opportunities offered by OTP Bank. At the closing ceremony, the winning teams presented their ideas, evaluated by a panel of experts from academia and industry.
Winning ideas impress the expert jury
Through pitch presentations, teams showcased creative solutions, with the best ideas earning valuable prizes.
First Place: The top prize went to the team consisting of Karla Kulier, Larija Jukić, Petra Taradi, and Tihana Triplat. Their innovative solution, 'OTP Student – Discover the Path, Pack the Success', won over the jury.
Second Place: The runner-up team included Kaja Culjak, Elizabeta Rengel, and Luka Krznarić.
Third Place: The team comprising Patrik Šantek, Niko Kostel, Karlo Svetec, and Benjamin Šmitlehner secured third place.
Inauguration of a modern laboratory classroom
The generous sponsorship and donation by OTP Bank enabled the renovation and modernization of a laboratory classroom in the FOI 1 building in Varaždin. Equipped with computing technology, the new space provides students with improved conditions for work and study, marking a significant leap in advancing IT education in Northwestern Croatia.
Voices of leadership
FOI Dean, Prof. Marina Klačmer Čalopa, PhD, congratulated all teams for their creative contributions and expressed gratitude to OTP Bank for their collaboration and support:
"This partnership between FOI and our strategic partner OTP Bank represents a significant step forward in enhancing our facilities and the quality of education. We are proud to build bridges between education and the job market through the InnoFusion Hackathon and infrastructure improvements."
Ivan Šimičević, a member of OTP Bank's Management Board, presented the awards to the winning team and emphasized the importance of investing in education and fostering collaboration between academia and industry: "One of OTP Bank's core values is positively impacting the community, and we believe that investing in knowledge is one of the best ways to demonstrate this commitment. Creating better learning conditions, like this new laboratory space, and organizing hackathons to inspire innovative thinking and ideas, is essential. These young people have truly impressed us today, proving once again the importance of collaboration between industry and academia in shaping the future of successful business practices."
Future collaboration
This partnership will continue in the future through various projects, competitions, and activities aimed at developing young professionals in the fields of information science and economics.
The project was funded by the Varaždin Student Center through a 0.5% fee from net amounts charged to student work contractors.
