The Greek “InnoGo” team of the Technical University of Crete achieved two major distinctions in the international competition Smart City HACK 2025, which took place in Nova Gorica. The two international teams, in which the Greek representatives participated, won 3rd and 4th place in the final ranking, confirming the high level of expertise and innovation of Greek universities.
The competition, which focused on shaping smart and green cities of the future, was organized by POPRI and Primorski Technoloski Park in Slovenia, with the support of leading mentors from Danfoss.
The Greek presence stood out with two top positions and multiple awards:
- 3rd Place & Most Original Idea Award:
Stergios Haitoglou, member of the Balkans and Beyond team (Greece, Serbia, Bosnia, Hungary), was awarded for his innovative ECO TOP concept. The system involves the intelligent recovery of heat from HVAC systems in combination with the use of green roofs, utilizing AI and urban symbiosis principles for the exchange of excess energy between buildings.
- 4th Place, Best Data Utilization & Most Innovative Idea Award:
Christos Papanastasiou, a member of the comfAI team (Greece, Slovenia, North Macedonia), earned 4th place with his idea for a smart HVAC management system for large building infrastructures. The solution utilizes AI, smart sensors, and machine learning to predict visitor traffic and optimize the energy performance of buildings.
The two-day event, apart from serving as a hub for the free exchange of knowledge and ideas, the competition gave participants the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic tour and experience at ECoC 2025 Nova Gorica/Gorizia, discovering how culture, innovation, and technology shape a unified European identity without borders.
You can find a gallery of photos from the event here.
