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.

JOIN NOW EXPLORE THE CHALLENGES →

Hackathon 2026Carasso Center

sidestream hackathon

Nov 26-27

Applications close in

Location

Carasso Center, Technion

Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Food Forward, Innovation and Industry Relations, Carasso FoodTech Innovation Center, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Sustainability on Campus, Faculty of Chemical Engineering Wolfson, Ministry of Economy and Industry

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.

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.

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.

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.

OUR PARTICIPATING FACULTIES

Faculty of Biotechnology & Food Engineering
Faculty of Chemical Engineering
Faculty of Materials Science & Engineering

TEAM UP. CHOOSE YOUR CHALLENGE.

Already have a team? Come together. Still looking for teammates? Find them at our Launch Event.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

reserve my spot

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