Challenges & Winners
Event Agenda & Timing
Speakers & Mentors & Jury
Partners & Supporters

CITYTHON 2022 in Žilina (SK)

Photo Gallery from the Event

Thanks to all for being a part of this great event.
3,000€ in CASH prizes was given for the best solutions
+ 3x GARMIN Venu Watches

We would like to introduce you the winners:

Challenge 1:
TEAM Datagens – Roxani Gkavra and Pantelis Kaniouras
Presentation (PDF including links)

Challenge 2:
Green Parking Smart Surroundings – Filip Hanko, Diana Šimočková, Františka Mackaničová, Katarína Korfantová, Daniela Vavreková (UNIPO Mappers)
Presentation (PDF including links)

Challenge 3:
Cool Climate Solutions – Michal Rajtek, Pavol Štefanec, Marek Kromka
Presentation (PDF including links)

Univerzity of Žilina, Slovakia
Univerzity of Žilina, Slovakia
Univerzity of Žilina, Slovakia
Univerzity of Žilina, Slovakia
Univerzity of Žilina, Slovakia
Univerzity of Žilina, Slovakia
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City of Žilina

City of Žilina is the main municipality located in northern Slovakia. With population of approx. 83 thousands people is the fourth largest city in Slovakia. Žilina is the main industrial centre of north-west Slovakian region also called Upper-Váh. It is characterized with north temperate zone and it’s continental climate with four distinct seasons.
Žilina is candidate city for the title of European Capital of Culture 2026.

University of Žilina

At present there are about 8,000 students being educated at seven faculties in 184 accredited fields of study in all forms and degrees of university studies at the University. In its over 65 years of successful existence it has become the alma mater for more than 80,000 graduates, highly skilled professionals specialising mostly in transport and technical fields as well as in management, marketing or humanities.

In the field of science and research, our University participates in 200 national and 41 international scientific projects and organises about 60 scientific and professional events annually.

Students of the University of Žilina study in modern and well-equipped classrooms and laboratories centralised on the complex and modern university campus at Veľký Diel, located in quiet surroundings nearby a forest park but at a reasonable walking distance from the accommodation facilities as well as the historical centre of Žilina.

University of Žilina has a burning ambition to continue in dynamic growth, to provide high quality education, to educate well-prepared and demanded graduates, to develop international cooperation both in science and education.

Challenges

CHALLENGE 1
CHALLENGE 2
CHALLENGE 3

WINNER:
TEAM Datagens
Roxani Gkavra and Pantelis Kaniouras

Help your city management to promote smart mobility and foster change towards more sustainable and climate resilient cities.

Participants should develop solutions to assist the municipality in promoting and engaging citizens in activity-travel modes (e.g. walking and cycling) and help to reduce overall travels (e.g. use of public transport, carpooling, etc.).

Solutions should promote sustainable activity-travel behavior, engaging smart city navigation services based on both traditional (ESA, Galileo) and volunteer & citizen generated content. Utilize the sensors available in the city to monitor, manage and predict the traffic in the city to improve the overall traffic situation and increase use of public transport.

Help the Zilina city to build a data ecosystem for climate-neutral and smart communities, which will facilitate the access, share, and re-use of locally relevant data (in sectors such as mobility, energy, climate and zero pollution).

WINNER:
Green Parking Smart Surroundings
Filip Hanko, Diana Šimočková, Františka Mackaničová, Katarína Korfantová, Daniela Vavreková
(UNIPO Mappers)

Engagement of the public in city planning and development towards smart mobility, and safer, greener and more liveable city.

This challenge targets the development of solutions for engaging the public in challenges related to city mobility (e.g. safety, noise, air-quality) by providing them user-friendly tools to analyze and interact with sensor data available in the city.

Utilize the observational data available at the city and tailor them to ignite and drive continuous collaborative and participatory city development. Solutions should stimulate and assist the public participation in active mobility (bike sharing, design of cycling paths, public transport optimization), combined with urban greening, green areas revitalisation and implementation of nature-based solutions to improve the overall quality of life.

Solution could also build on local community mapping initiatives to improve quality of spatial information.

WINNER:
Cool Climate Solutions
Michal Rajtek, Pavol Štefanec, Marek Kromka

Building smart mobility in the context of extreme weather and humanitarian emergencies.

Address mobility challenges in context of extreme events such as extreme weather, pandemics (decreasing numbers of travelers) or humanitarian crises (increasing numbers of travelers).

Make smart mobility resilient for civil protection and the management of extreme events.

Combine smart mobility with measuring atmospheric variables or enhance the overall resilience of the city with co-designing nature-based solutions (e.g., trees and other green infrastructure) to reduce air quality issues and impacts of extreme weather events.

Solutions should also seek to consider the possible impact of climate change on the urban mobility in the city and the disturbances it may cause based on Copernicus Climate Change Service data.

Event Agenda

Day 1 / Friday, 29th April
Inauguration ceremony

15:30-16:05 Registration/ Acreditation

16:05-16:15 Intro

16:15-16:20 Welcome Speech from EIT

16:20-16:25 Welcome Speech from City representative

16:25-16:30 Welcome Speech from University representative

16:31-16:45 Presentation city challenge 1

16:45-17:00 Inspirational Tech Pill Talk 1 + Q&A

17:00-17:15 Presentation city challenge 2

17:15-17:30 Inspirational Tech Pill Talk 2 + Q&A

17:30-17:45 Presentation city challenge 3

17:45-18:00 Inspirational Tech Pill Talk 3 + Q&A

18:00-18:10 Tech. Intructions for day 2 – mentoring/agenda

18:10-18:30 Team networking

18:30-20:00 Hacking Begins (Idieation)

Day 2 / Saturday, 30th April
Hackathon

08:30-09:00 Welcome coffee Θ

09:00-09:05 Intro – day agenda

09:05-12:00 Hacking Begins (Idieation)

12:00-13:30 Lunch Θ

13:30-20:00 Hackaking Continues (Prototyping)

14:30-15:00 Coffee break / snack Θ

15:00-18:00 Mentoring sessions (30 mins per group)

18:30-20:00 Dinner Θ

20:00-20:30 Inspiration speech – video – TBA

20:30-23:30 Hackathon Continues

Day 3 / Sunday, 1st May
Hackathon

08:30-08:55 Welcome coffee Θ

08:55-09:00 Intro

09:00-12:00 Hackathon Continues (Proposal preparation)

09:00-10:30 Mentoring sessions (15 mins per group)

11:30-12:00 Final Countdown

12:00 Deadline for Presentation Submission

12:00-12:45 Lunch Θ

12:45-14:00 Pitches (max. 5 minutes)

14:00-14:30 Jury deliberation

14:30 Winners announcement

Drinks + snacks to celebrate Θ

End of CityRISthon

Speakers

Prof. Francesco Pilla

Associate Professor in Smart Cities and Urban Environment,
University College Dublin

About Prof. Francesco Pilla is an Associate Professor in Smart Cities and Urban Environment in UCD. He holds a PhD in civil engineering and his work lies at the intersection between cities and technologies. His goal is to build better cities through technology, innovation and citizen participation. He focuses on empowering local communities with cutting-edge technology and enabling them to act on pressing environmental issues in their local environment. He has been active in environmental research for 15 years and to date has attracted over €15 Million in research funding from International and National funding sources.
Holds PhD degree in domain of geospatial data management from Faculty of Geodesy and Geoinformatics, University of Zagreb, Croatia. His main focus is geospatial data management, development of geospatial services in Python programming language, visualization of geospatial data in open-source application GeoServer and custom visualization of geospatial data in JavaScript libraries such as OpenLayers.

Florian Pappenberger

Deputy Director – General & Director of Forecasts at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

About He is responsible for the 24/7 production of weather forecasts, development of novel forecast products, applications of weather forecasts such as flood, drought, fire and health forecasts, numerical weather prediction relevant software development, data sales and outreach and training. ECMWF operates two services from the EU’s Copernicus Earth observation programme: the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). Florian was responsible for the development and implementation of the operational centre of the Copernicus Emergency Service – Early Warning Systems (floods). Florian is the author of over 150 scientific publications and has won several scientific awards.

Daniel Sagath, PhD.

International Cooperation Manager,
Slovak Space Office

About Expert on science commercialization, diversification of entrepreneurship and innovation. Specialized in the space industry & business incubation. Skilled mentor in start-up and scale-up initiatives, including company portfolio and strategy preparations (e.g., business model canvas, identification and solutions to business obstacles), including the analysis of entrepreneurial competences, cost structure, and revenue streams. Experienced with business incubation in high-technology industries, including business environment and entrepreneurial practices analysis or project management.

Martin Tuchyna, PhD.

GeoICT & Environmental infrastructure coordinator
Ministry of Environment (SK)

About After PhD studies in Landscape ecology at Technical University in Zvolen, started to understand the potential of geographic information systems and spatial data infrastructures in Slovak environment agency. This allowed him to get closer insights, working as national detached expert on data specifications framework for INSPIRE directive at the Joint Research Centre of the EC. Last decade supports INSPIRE implementation and use in synergies with the Open Data and eGovernment initiatives at the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic. Where possible, he keeps trying to stimulate innovations, link people and ideas and remains curious.

Mentors

Daniel Harcek

Senior Engineer Director / Backend Data Layers
AVAST Software (CZ)

About I used the study of information and control systems, specifically software engineering, in practice in the development of applications designed for desktops and web applications and services, especially scalable backend services and their data layers. Over time, I began to coordinate individuals and teams and communicate with business, customers or other stakeholders. I work mainly in the areas of digital publishing, online marketing and cybersecurity. In my free time, I actively contributed to the community, led the development meetup webup and co-organized Startup Weekends. At the same time, I was a mentor for incipient business attacks.

Joy Ommer

Disaster Management & Sustainable Development
KAJO (SK)

About Has a master degree in Disaster Management & Sustainable Development with the dissertation on Children’s Risk Perception and Hazard Knowledge Acquisition. Her present research interest is mainly related to cross-scale Disaster Risk Reduction with particular focus on people-centered approaches for development and disaster risk reduction and in the (inter)linkage of different scales. Her experiences include a traineeship at the European Commission’s DG Joint Research Center working on the development of a multi-scale vulnerability index in support of the identification and reduction of risks in Europe.

Jozef Olsavsky

Architect – Head of LIMINAAL ARCHITECTURE,
Rotterdam (NL)

About Jozef has acquired his experience while working with Rem Koolhaas at OMA in Rotterdam NL, at Bogle Architects and Building Desings in London UK and ran AUAOAY studio focused on contemporary architecture, design and research in Prague CZ. His portfolio contains a wide range of work from the design of indoor and outdoor facilities through projects of family houses, mixed use buildings to urban planning, master planning and competitions – as well as various kinds of research and essays. His work ethos is based on continuous testing and trying designs in a broader context – he considers himself an open and logical thinker with progressive, environmental, but mostly positive approach.

Sasa Vranic, PhD.

Geospatial data management & visualization
KAJO (SK)

About Holds PhD degree in domain of geospatial data management from Faculty of Geodesy and Geoinformatics, University of Zagreb, Croatia. His main focus is geospatial data management, development of geospatial services in Python programming language, visualization of geospatial data in open-source application GeoServer and custom visualization of geospatial data in JavaScript libraries such as OpenLayers.

Miloslav Michalko, PhD.

Geospatial Data Consultant & Researcher

About Research and geospatial data consultant focusing on open mapping tools and the use of GIS and OpenStreetMap in regional development. He holds PhD in Regional Geography and Regional Development at the University of Prešov, where he is trying to develop community-based GIS activities with an emphasis on regional strategic planning. While using tools such as Mapathons or other open tools to bring good quality spatial open data. Same, within the Catching-Up Regions project, he is engaged in deploying Spatial Data Infrastructure for two Slovak regional administrative.

Dr. Yannick Cornet

Senior Researcher of Sustainable Transport Systems
University of Žilina

About Dr. Yannick Cornet is a Senior Researcher of Sustainable Transport Systems at the University of Žilina, ERAdiate+ team. His research focus on topics related to enablers and barriers for change in mobility, urban innovation processes, multi-criteria appraisal tools, mobility indicators, space-time footprint of transport, urban infrastructure retrofitting for walking/cycling/liveability, design of mobility-related apps, and the use of time in transport from the traveller perspective. He has a PhD in transport from the Technical University of Denmark, a Masters in planning from Roskilde University (Denmark), and a software engineering degree from Sherbrooke University (Canada).

Marian Gogola

Associate professor, transport planning, modelling, forecasting

About Marián Gogola is an associate professor at the Department of Road and Urban Transport at University of Žilina. In the field of research, he deals with issues sustainable mobility, public transport and non-motorized transport and analysis to give from transport. He also works as a volunteer in the civic association MULICA, which promotes environmentally friendly modes of transport, in particular bicycle transport. He was co-investigators of several domestic projects for practice as well as international projects.

Andrej Rybovic

Professional focused on innovation strategies and business development

About An experienced professional focused on innovation strategies and business development-oriented on high efficiency with the highest added value and sustainability of the business. Andrej worked with several innovative companies and helped them to develop them. Andrej’s areas of expertise include: validation of potential product or services innovation, analysis market; Implementation new tool to increase efficiency selling and cooperation, Project/program management

Denis Sedlak

Manager for the development of a local ecosystem,
Slovak Space Office

Matej Loncko

Chief Marketing Officer, Creative thinker & Mentor @ ScrumDesk

About I’m Creative thinker, Designer & Mentor, currently working as Chief Marketing Officer at ScrumDesk – helping teams and organisations to become meaningfully agile. I spent almost 2 decades helping clients from all around the world with their brands, products and small or big ideas to become reality and be successful. In general, my big passion is finding creative solutions for different challenges with exceptional people.

Jury Members

Gabriel STANCIK

Electronic Communication Department
Senior State Counsellor
Ministry of Transport and Construction (SK)

About He has dedicated his career to frequency management and the European satellite navigation system Galileo. He represents Slovakia at the world conferences of the Radiocommunication sector of the International Telecommunication Union and the European Space Agency EUSPA, where he is a member of the Administrative Board.

Daniel Sagath, PhD.

International Cooperation Manager,
Slovak Space Office

About Expert on science commercialization, diversification of entrepreneurship and innovation. Specialized in the space industry & business incubation. Skilled mentor in start-up and scale-up initiatives, including company portfolio and strategy preparations (e.g., business model canvas, identification and solutions to business obstacles), including the analysis of entrepreneurial competences, cost structure, and revenue streams. Experienced with business incubation in high-technology industries, including business environment and entrepreneurial practices analysis or project management.

Lubos Slebodnik

Transport and Mobility Officer – Specialist
Department of Public Space and Environment Administration
Municipal Office in Zilina (SK)

About I work at the Municipal Office in Žilina in the transport department as a specialist for mobility. As part of my agenda, I focus on promoting alternative types of transportation and thus the development of cycling in the city, including the start of bikesharing system, support for public transport, creating conditions for the development of electromobility and reduction individual car transport, including city parking solutions. In addition, I am dedicated to maintaining the city’s monument reservation in essential transportation and projects which are also referred to Smart city. As part of these measures I also deal with the implementation of international projects that are more innovative, educational and marketing.

Milan Kalas, PhD.

Freelance consultant EuropeanCommission
CEO KAJO (SK)

About Graduated as civil engineer, with a PhD degree in Hydrology and Water Management. Since 2003, he is a member of the core team developing the European and Global Flood Awareness System at the Joint Research Centre of the EC. He has participated in many national and international projects. His activities mainly focus on Disaster Risk Management in support of international frameworks like Sendai, IPCC, SDG, Floods Directive and etc. Milan has a long record of development user tailored products and effectively communicate and disseminate information in disaster risk management community (e.g. EC Copernicus services, National Water Authorities, EU Civil protection).

Martin Vesely

Innovation Consultant
Running Healthcare Lab – An international digital healthcare accelerator
CIVITTA (SK)

Master of Ceremony

Viliam Vajda, PhD.

Product manager
Deutche Telekom Systems Solutions Slovakia

About Viliam used to study Faculty of Economics at Technical University of Kosice, where he also made a PhD study and spent 12 years as an assistant professor and researcher. His research area was dedicated to applied research in IT, mostly focused on valuation of investment in IT and evaluation of implementation the new technologies/systems in companies within various business areas. Viliam currently works as a Product Manager at Automation Shared Service Centre. Previously in the company he worked as a Business System Analyst, Product Owner and also as a Head of Team at ASSC. Viliam also worked as a team member and lead coordinator of national as well as international multidisciplinary research and implementation teams for consortia formed from universities and mostly European companies. He is co-founder of Eastcubator – Co-working space for innovative companies and freelancers in Kosice and organizer of Startup Weekend in Kosice and T-Systems Slovakia Hackathon.

Organizers of Citython 2022 in Zilina, Slovakia

Regional Partners & Science Authorities

Commercial Supporters

Thanks for usefull Prizes
Thanks for the Wings to fly at
Thanks for great Funding
Thanks for tasteful Breakfast

Media Partners

This project is funded by EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
EIT Urban Mobility acts to accelerate positive change on mobility to make urban spaces more liveable. Learn more: eiturbanmobility.eu.