news 16.12.2025

Hackathon Handbook outlines challenge-driven open innovation practice

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Jenni Mattinen

For two years, the BioBoosters - Boosting Circular Transition project has been piloting international BioBoosters model to create a scalable hackathon concept that can continue beyond the project. Now, the learnings and the concept are collaboratively documented in ‘How to be a BioBooster! Hackathon handbook’.

How to be a BioBooster! Hackathon handbook is published

BioBoosters hackathons originated in 2021, when the first innovation competitions were organised at Jamk Institute of Bioeconomy in the Bioeconomy Business Accelerator, BioPaavo. Since 2023, the hackathons have continued by Circular Bioeconomy Business Accelerator BioBoosters.

Through the Jamk-led ‘BioBoosters – Boosting Circular Transition’ project, the model was scaled across the Baltic Sea region. From 2024 to 2025 nine partner organisations delivered 18 hackathons addressing a wide range of challenges: Jamk (Finland), BioFuel Region (Sweden), Estonian University of Life Sciences (Estonia), Paper Province (Sweden), Pro Civis (Poland), Pärnu County Development Center (Estonia), Sunrise Tech Park (Lithuania), Vidzeme (Latvia), and WITENO (Germany). 

With overall more than 40 hackathons delivered, the model is now tested, refined, and proven effective in helping companies solve real business challenges through open innovation. 

Step-by-step guide with tips from organisators

The concept is now published as a 108-page handbook, a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how to organise a BioBoosters hackathon. 

The handbook taps into the details of five process steps; resourcing, challenge formulation, scouting for solutions, solution development, and innovation co-operation. It details the hackathon process and the related tasks but also analyses the outcomes and gives tips from the organisers.  

“One thing we have learned in our hackathons is that the process of formulating and refining the challenge with the provider company can act as a catalyst for understanding their own productions or process. It may inspire changes, refinements, collaborations or new ways of organising – a valuable outcome that complements the actual solutions they receive", shares Eva Fridman from BioFuel Reagion a tip.  

BioBoosters Hackathon 5-step process

Download the handbook from Zenado service.

The handbook is co-published by Jamk and Paper Province, being one of four publications produced collaboratively within the project. More detailed insights and outcomes from the 18 hackathons are covered in BioBoosters Impact Review 2024 and BioBoosters Impact Review 2025. Boosting Circular Transition is an overview publication of the project.  

More information

Anna Aalto

Vanhempi asiantuntija, Senior Advisor
Biotalousinstituutti, Institute of Bioeconomy
Teknologia, School of Technology
+358406402346

Launched in January 2023, BioBoosters – Boosting Circular Transition – project connects 9 regions with strong bioeconomy innovation ecosystems to help circular bioeconomy business transition in Baltic Sea Region. The 3-year project is co-financed by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme from the European Regional Development Funds.

Keywords

hackathon
BioBoosters
Institute of Bioeconomy
circular economy
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