CHALLENGE REVEAL
The industry challenges are revealed. Choose the one you want to solve.
Food Forward
SIDESTREAM
H A C K 2 0 2 6
TURN WHAT'S LEFT
INTO WHAT'S NEXT
A 24-hour hackathon at the Carasso Foodtech Innovation Center. Students from the Faculties of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering team up on real side-stream challenges from industry.
Hackathon 2026Carasso Center
sidestream hackathon
Nov 26-27
Applications close in
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Location
Carasso Center, Technion
OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
WHAT IS A SIDE STREAM?
TURN UNUSED RESOURCES INTO NEW POSSIBILITIES
Alongside their main products, factories generate side streams: materials, water, gases and energy that are not fully utilized. These can include peels, whey and fermentation residues, process water, waste heat, CO₂ and packaging materials.
Much of this is discarded or put to low-value use, despite its technological, economic and environmental potential.
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WHY THIS CHALLENGE?
A material that costs money to dispose of today could become a source of revenue or greater industrial efficiency.
Recovering that value requires solutions that make technical, economic and operational sense.
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WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Viable engineering solutions that reduce, recover, reuse or transform industrial side streams into valuable resources.
The possibilities are broad: new ingredients, biomaterials, separation and conversion processes, energy recovery, wastewater treatment, improved equipment or new models for the value chain.
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WHAT WILL YOU DEVELOP?
Working in interdisciplinary teams, you'll investigate a real industry challenge, characterize the selected side stream and propose an engineering solution.
Your final concept should show preliminary technical and economic feasibility, using AI tools for modeling, analysis and presentation.
THE CHALLENGES (COMING SOON)
REAL INDUSTRY CHALLENGES. YOUR ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS.
The challenges come directly from industry, based on real problems in production, resource use and efficiency. They may involve biological materials, chemical processes, material recovery, wastewater, waste heat, energy efficiency, packaging or CO₂.
Each one is an opportunity to apply your knowledge in biotechnology and food engineering, chemical engineering, materials science or sustainability, and to develop a technically and economically viable solution.
The full industry challenges will be revealed at our November 3 Launch Event.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
SideStream Hack is open to current Technion undergraduate and graduate students (BSc, MSc and PhD) from our participating faculties and academic programs. Participants will work in interdisciplinary teams of 3 to 6 students.
WHY JOIN
TURN YOUR KNOWLEDGE INTO REAL IMPACT
Take on real challenges from leading companies, work directly with industry mentors, and build valuable connections with professionals in your field.
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REAL INDUSTRY CHALLENGES
Work on actual problems brought by leading companies. Apply your engineering and scientific knowledge to develop solutions with real technological, economic and environmental potential.
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DIRECT ACCESS TO INDUSTRY
Work directly with industry professionals and experienced mentors. Gain insight into real industrial processes, technical challenges and how companies evaluate solutions.
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SHOWCASE YOUR SKILLS
Present your engineering solution to a panel of industry and academic judges. Demonstrate your problem-solving abilities, gain professional exposure and make valuable industry connections.
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PRIZES & RECOGNITION
Compete for cash prizes and recognition for your work. The strongest solutions will be recognized for engineering quality, feasibility and presentation.
PRIZES AND JUDGING
₪5,000 FOR FIRST PLACE.
2nd place02
₪3,000
3rd place03
₪2,000
Crowd Favorite★
₪1,000
voted by the teams
Pilot opportunity
₪29,000
in pilot funding*
The most feasible solutions from the hackathon can become candidates for a pilot at the Carasso Center, worth ₪29,000 in facilities and services. A separate committee will select the pilot based on viability, fit with the Center's capabilities and potential for continued development.
JUDGING CRITERIA
WHAT WILL THE JUDGES LOOK FOR?
A panel of industry and academic judges will evaluate your engineering quality, innovation, technical and economic feasibility, and how clearly you present your concept.
0120%
THE PROBLEM
Problem Analysis & Characterization
How well you understand the challenge, the existing process and its resource efficiency, the side stream, and its technological, economic and environmental implications.
0220%
THE SOLUTION
Engineering Solution & Innovation
A clear, original engineering solution that reduces, recovers, reuses or valorizes the side stream and creates new industrial value.
0320%
ENGINEERING DEPTH
Technical Analysis & Evidence
Calculations, modeling, simulations or process evaluations, grounded in scientific and engineering principles and realistic assumptions.
0420%
FEASIBILITY
Technical & Economic Viability
Preliminary technical and economic feasibility and practical fit within industrial processes, considering costs, resources, operational constraints and scalability.
0510%
FINAL PRESENTATION
Clarity & Communication
A clear, well-structured and original presentation of the problem, the solution and the analysis behind it.
0610%
INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION
Team Composition & Integration
How well your team combines knowledge from different scientific and engineering disciplines, and how relevant that mix is to the challenge.
AI REQUIREMENT
AI tools are expected throughout development, including modeling, analysis and the final presentation.
SPECIAL GUEST | SPEAKER & JUDGE
ONE PERSON'S WASTE IS ANOTHER'S FINE DINING
Sustainability in Restaurants
Meet Shalom Simcha Elbert, chef, entrepreneur and food researcher, recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30.
With extensive experience in culinary sustainability, food innovation and fermentation R&D, Shalom brings a practical perspective on transforming overlooked ingredients and food waste into culinary value.
He will join SideStream Hack 2026 for a special guest lecture and serve as a judge on the final panel.
TWO-DAY SCHEDULE
24 HOURS SIDESTREAM HACKATHON
24 hours of real industry challenges, collaboration, industry mentors, great food, unexpected activities, and plenty of surprises to keep the energy going.
DAY 01Thursday, November 26
09:00Registration and light refreshments
09:30Opening Ceremony and Challenge Reveal
10:30Team Formation and Work Begins
13:00Lunch Break
14:00Mentoring Sessions and Work Continues
19:00Dinner Break and Networking
20:00Status Meeting
22:30Happy Hour
DAY 02Friday, November 27
07:00Refreshing Morning Activity
08:00Breakfast and Final Touches
10:00Submission Deadline
10:30Project Presentations and Judging
12:30Closing Ceremony and Winners Announcement
Agenda is indicative and subject to change.
SIDESTREAM Hack 2026
JOINUS
*Submission deadline: November 8
Registration is open! Get ready for 24 hours at the Carasso Center, with great food, exclusive SideStream Hack swag, late-night activities and a few surprises we're keeping under wraps.
Don't miss out. Secure your spot at SideStream Hack 2026.
1ACADEMIC INFO
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sidestream HACK 2026
The team behind Sidestream hack 2026
Core Team
Dr. Yair Glick
Director, Carasso Center for Innovation in Food Technologies
Founder and lead of the Food Forward ecosystem
Oz Mahlebani
Industry Relations Manager
Office of Innovation and Industry Relations
Alona Selfin
Head of Industrial Relations and Marketing
Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering
Hemda Tal
Coordinator of Industrial Relations
Faculty of Chemical Engineering
Etai Miller
Marketing Coordinator
Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering
Yaheli Yairi
Project Coordinator
Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering
Lynn Cohen
Ph.D Candidate
Materials Science & Engineering Faculty
Einat Hazan
UNIQA
Strategy, Growth, Innovation & Brand firm
Academic Advisors
Assoc. Prof. Avi Shpigelman
Academic Director, Carasso Center for Innovation in Food Technologies
Researcher, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering
Prof. Avner Rothschild
L. Shirley Tark Chair in Science
Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Prof. Roy Posmanik
Civil & Environment Engineering
Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
Assoc. Prof. Michael Patrascu
Associate Professor
Faculty of Chemical Engineering
SIDESTREAM HACK 2026
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
