A policy hackathon is a hackathon where the result is a solution for policy, not just code. Multidisciplinary teams take a real challenge from the organisation that owns it and, in a short and focused event, develop something that organisation could actually use: a policy proposal, a behaviour change campaign, a data tool or a business model. You do not need to be a coder.

The Amsterdam Policy Hackathon runs this format over 2.5 days, from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening, for students and young professionals.

A coding hackathon is about building software; a policy hackathon is about a solution the partner could actually use. It keeps the hackathon format (a weekend, teams, a deadline and a pitch), but with a broader, socially oriented focus. Designs and demos of technical tools are welcome when they help, but they are not required. The emphasis is on innovative, data-informed proposals, often backed by data analysis.

That changes who is in the room. Teams mix policy people, data scientists, designers and curious students from any field, and we recommend a balance of technical and social skills in each team.

Partners bring the challenges, teams form on day one, and everything ends in a pitch to a jury. At the Amsterdam Policy Hackathon the weekend runs like this:

• Friday: kick-off, case presentations, team formation and networking. You can come with a team or on your own; teams have 3 to 5 people.
• Saturday: workshops relevant to the challenges, and working time. Challenge Directors and mentors guide the teams throughout.
• Sunday: a final working session, then a 3-minute pitch to the audience and jury, and the award ceremony.

Teams hand in a concise write-up of their solution. The jury picks finalists for each challenge, questions them, and chooses a winner per challenge. The best solutions can be taken further with the partner.

Real, specific problems from the organisations and institutions that own them. The first Amsterdam Policy Hackathon, in September 2025, had four, tackled by 18 teams:

1. PAVA, healthcare innovation: quantifying the impact of emergent healthcare technologies
2. AMS Institute, urban biodiversity: data-driven policy frameworks for supporting insect biodiversity in the city
3. BIT x Provincie Gelderland, digital governance: automating permit granting by responsibly using AI
4. City of Amsterdam, energy transition: platforms that support citizens’ decisions throughout the energy transition

In November 2026 there are two events. At the Amsterdam Zuidoost Hackathon every team works on one question from the Municipality of Amsterdam: how do we make Amsterdam Zuidoost a cleaner neighbourhood? At the Amsterdam Circularity Hackathon, AEB Amsterdam, Plastic Soup Foundation, AMS Institute and Taste Before You Waste each bring a challenge on circularity and sustainability.

Anyone with a strong interest in interdisciplinary, data-driven policymaking. The Amsterdam Policy Hackathon is aimed at university students and young professionals from any field of study, and no programming is needed: workshops and mentoring support every skill level. Participation is free; you cover your own travel and accommodation. The event is in person and in English.

In 2025, 170+ people signed up and 80+ took part.

More questions? See the full FAQ.