Motor Valley Accelerator has opened applications for the 2026 edition of its “Driving Innovation Hackathon”, a pan-European challenge designed to connect top engineering and business students with leading automotive and mobility players in Italy’s Motor Valley. Now in its fifth year, the programme is organised with MUNER – the Motor Valley University of Emilia-Romagna – and AssetClassic, a private equity fund specialising in classic cars and automotive heritage.
The hackathon is open to bachelor, MSc and PhD students from any university and discipline, with a preference for candidates approaching the end of their studies and strongly motivated to launch their own venture in the mobility space. Applicants can enter individually or in teams of two to five members, provided that at least one engineer is included in each group.
To foster genuinely cross-functional project teams, the organisers will merge and complete groups where needed, ensuring a mix of STEM and non-STEM backgrounds in every team. Students can apply until 12 April 2026 via an online form.
Industry-backed challenges
Once teams are formed, participants will work on real-world innovation challenges provided by Motor Valley Accelerator’s corporate partners and AssetClassic. Challenge providers for 2026 include STMicroelectronics, Agrati, Dallara, Pirelli, OMR, Gruppo Hera, Unipol and AssetClassic, covering a wide spectrum of the mobility value chain, from semiconductors and advanced materials to motorsport engineering, tyres, industrial components, utilities and insurance.
Teams will have roughly one month to ideate and refine their solution before submitting a five-minute video pitch by 11 May 2026, outlining the problem statement, proposed technology or business model, and implementation roadmap.
Bridging talent and the Motor Valley ecosystem
“The Driving Innovation Hackathon is consolidating its role as an international reference point for young talents who want to contribute concretely to the evolution of mobility,” commented Alberto Caviglia, Manager of Motor Valley Accelerator and Plug and Play. He recalled that the 2025 edition attracted more than 250 students from 33 universities in 5 countries, forming 51 international teams and selecting 11 finalists, underscoring how innovation in automotive is increasingly driven by the interplay between technological skills, entrepreneurial vision and close collaboration with industry. “Our goal is to accelerate this trajectory, creating a concrete bridge between talent and the market,” he added.
According to Leonardo Guglielmetti, General Manager of MUNER – Motor Valley University of Emilia-Romagna, the hackathon offers “a concrete opportunity to test technical skills and entrepreneurial vision in a highly challenging, international environment”. He stressed MUNER’s strong belief in integrating academic training with the industrial system of the Motor Valley, enabling students to work with leading companies and turn innovative ideas into high-potential projects.
Michele Bertoncello, Partner at AssetClassic, highlighted the strategic angle on automotive heritage, stating that the initiative supports participants in “enhancing Heritage through innovation”, linking classic car culture with new business and technology models.
Final stage and venture pathway
Finalist teams will present their projects on 29 May 2026 in Modena during Motor Valley Fest, pitching live in front of a jury of industry experts. Winners will receive financial support to move from concept to execution, from building a first prototype to incorporating a startup.
Beyond prize money, winning teams will be supported by Motor Valley Accelerator in defining their business plan and scaling a viable business model. They will also gain access to key events in the accelerator’s calendar, including its Expo Day, a prime networking platform bringing together international startups, investors, corporates and automotive stakeholders.
Motor Valley Accelerator is part of the national CDP Venture Capital network and is backed by UniCredit and Fondazione Modena; it is managed by Plug and Play, which also acts as co-investor, alongside innovation hub CRIT. With the Driving Innovation Hackathon 2026, the platform once again puts the spotlight on young talent as a catalyst for the next generation of mobility solutions.
