Not at all — while some challenges involve coding, there are dedicated non-coding tracks focused on experimental design, problem-solving, and communication, ensuring everyone can contribute meaningfully.

Participants can apply as individuals or as teams of 3-6 members. Individual applicants will have the chance to form teams during in-person networking and team formation sessions prior to the event.

Yes — winning teams will receive prizes and certificates of participation, recognising creativity, innovation, and collaboration.

Participants will have access to pre-event workshops (on technical skills, entrepreneurship, IP, Python, and Git) and mentorship from academic and industry experts linked to each challenge.
Travel support will be available, with partial to full reimbursement (up to £60 per person) based on competition and need.

Workshops are optional and can be selected based on individual skill levels. The hackathon itself will likely run over a weekend (2-3 days) or as a hybrid week-long event with in-person sessions at the beginning and end, and flexible online collaboration in between.

Interested academics or partners can email the organising team at [email protected] to discuss challenge proposals, mentoring, or sponsorship opportunities.

Final dates for the workshops and the main BioHackathon are to be confirmed, but the event is planned for Spring 2026.

Yes — selected projects may receive continued mentorship or sponsorship support, depending on partner interest and participant initiative.

The event is organised by Ian Yang (Swain Lab, School of Biological Sciences) in collaboration with the Centre for Engineering Biology and partners across the University of Edinburgh. For all inquiries, contact [email protected].