Innovation Sprint · Next event
sprintd BaselGreenTech Edition
36 hours to build Basel's net zero.
20-22 November 2026 · FHNW Campus Dreispitz, Basel
Basel-Stadt wants to reach net zero by 2037. Around 200 builders spend 36 hours on real green tech cases, during the Global Entrepreneurship Week Basel. Free to enter. Applications are open until 15 November.
36-hour sprintAround 200 buildersFree to enterCHF 5,000 in prizes
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- When
- 20-22 November 2026
- Kick-off
- Friday, 17:00
- Where
- FHNW Campus Dreispitz, Basel
- Entry
- Free, all in
What we're actually doing
Basel-Stadt has decided to reach net zero by 2037. Getting there takes working prototypes, not just targets.
For 36 hours, around 200 builders from tech, design, business, research and the fields themselves form small teams and work on real green tech cases. The cases come from organisations that want to keep working with the results. By Sunday, there are prototypes to show.
The sprint runs during the Global Entrepreneurship Week Basel (16-22 November) and closes the week with the part where things get built. Powered by BaselTech, Basel Circular and Basel 2037. The cases are revealed at the kickoff on Friday.
The weekend
Three days, one build.
- 01
Day 1
Friday
Doors open at 17:00. The opening, the partners present their cases, deep dives at their stands, and teams form. Then the building starts, and the room settles into its first long stretch of work.
- 02
Day 2
Saturday
One continuous build from morning to night, with mentoring and workshops. Mentors move between teams, ask hard questions, and help you sharpen what you have. Food, drinks, showers and a place to sleep are all on site, so the only thing pulling you away from the work is your own need for a few hours of rest.
- 03
Day 3
Sunday
Final submissions go in during the morning. Teams pitch in their case rooms, the case winners go on to the final in front of the jury, and the prizes are awarded. We wrap up around 14:30.
The venue
FHNW Campus Dreispitz · Basel
The FHNW Campus Dreispitz is home to the FHNW School of Computer Science and the School of Business. For one weekend in November it's ours, and you don't need to leave until it's done.
Visit the campus
On site
- Work rooms for the teams
- A plenum for the opening and the final
- The Mensa
- Showers
- Two sleeping rooms, with a separate quiet area for women
What's included
The whole weekend is free to enter. Once you're in, everything below is covered.
Free entry
No ticket, no fee, no deposit. You apply, and if you're in, you're in.
Food all weekend
Meals and snacks from Friday to Sunday, on us.
Drinks
Covered for the full weekend, day and night.
Overnight stay
Sleep on site at the FHNW Campus Dreispitz on mattresses we provide. No hotel, no commute, no lost hours.
Showers on site
Freshen up between builds. Showers are available at the venue.
A quiet area for women
A separate quiet sleeping area for women.
Mentors on hand
Experienced mentors move between teams all weekend. The lineup is announced closer to the event.
What to bring
You sleep on site on mattresses we provide, so just bring what makes a few hours of rest comfortable.
A sleeping bag is the one thing you really need. We've got the mattress. Everything else just makes the night better.
A sleeping bag
Essential. The floor space and a mattress are provided, staying warm is on you.
A pillow or cushion
Optional, but your neck will thank you. A small travel pillow does the job.
Sleeping mask and earbuds
Highly recommended. The room can stay bright and loud when not everyone sleeps at once.
Pack light
Bring what gets you a few hours of sleep, your laptop and charger, and not much more.
Who should apply
Anyone who builds. Developers, designers, engineers, researchers, and the people from energy, construction, food, mobility and the circular economy who know the problem from the inside. You don't need to code. Apply solo or with a team of up to four. If you apply solo, matchmaking helps you find a team before the event, and if you arrive without one, we help you on site. Open from 16: if you're 16 or 17 on the weekend of the sprint, you'll need a signed consent form from a parent or guardian before your place is confirmed.
Apply nowQuestions, answered
What does it cost?
Nothing. Entry is free, and that includes food, drinks, showers, and a place to sleep on site for the whole weekend.
Is this a hackathon?
In format, yes: small teams, 36 hours, working prototypes by Sunday. We call it an innovation sprint because the focus is the innovation and the real-world problem, not just the code, and because it draws people from every domain, not only coders.
Who can apply?
Anyone who wants to build, from anywhere. You need to be 16 or older on the weekend of the sprint. If you're 16 or 17, we'll ask for a consent form signed by a parent or guardian before your place is confirmed. You upload it to your application, and we tell you exactly where to find the form.
Do I need a team?
No. Apply solo or with a team of up to four. We don't drop you into a random team. Before the event, our matchmaking helps you find a team or connect with others who also applied on their own. And if you arrive without a team, we'll help you sort one out on site.
Do I need to be a developer?
No. We want developers, designers, engineers, researchers and people who know the problem from the inside. The strongest teams mix them.
Where do I sleep, and what should I bring?
You sleep on site at the FHNW Campus Dreispitz, in sleeping rooms with mattresses we provide. Bring a sleeping bag, and a pillow, sleeping mask, and earbuds if you want to rest well. Showers are available at the venue.
Is there a separate sleeping area for women?
Yes. There is a separate quiet area for women.
When do applications close?
Applications close on 15 November 2026 at 23:59. Create your profile on the platform and apply.
What happens after I'm accepted?
Once your application is accepted, we share the full details: the schedule, what to bring, how to get there, and everything else you need for the weekend.
I'm travelling from abroad. Can you help with a visa?
Yes. Once your application is accepted, we can provide an invitation letter to support a visa application.
What's the prize?
CHF 5,000 in prizes.
Three ways to get involved
Be the first to know
Applications for sprintd Basel are open until 15 November. The full schedule and logistics go out to everyone once their application is accepted. Sign up for the newsletter to hear about the next sprints first.
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