The story about Toksika Hackathon: Accelerated Remediation of Contaminated Soils

Research meets business to tackle petroleum-contaminated soil remediation

Sunrise Tech Park, in cooperation with Lithuanian hazardous waste management company Toksika, organized the Toksika Hackathon to develop innovative solutions for the bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated soil. Held on March 6–7 in Vilnius,  Toksika hackathon  brought together research and business teams for a final in-person competition. The winning solution, presented by Sensatec GmbH, impressed with its integrated approach: combining advanced technologies with tailored products like microbes, biopolymers, and reagents for effective soil decontamination.

International dimension

The Bioboosters network brought an international dimension to the Toksika Hackathon on the bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated soil. The challenge received 20 applications, which came from 10 different countries (Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Canada), 75% international, significantly expanding the diversity and creativity of the proposed solutions. After a careful evaluation process, five different solutions with the greatest potential for practical application by Toksika were selected for the final competition.

The mentoring team, together with Toksika and Sunrise Tech Park, included experts from six institutions, bringing together highly competent chemists, biologists, environmental specialists, and innovation consultants. Multidisciplinary and international support came from the Nature Research Centre (Lithuania), Vytautas Magnus University/Biovala (Lithuania), the Finnish Environment Institute (Finland), and Karlstad University (Sweden). The diversity and expertise of the participants were highly valued by both mentors and teams, fostering meaningful connections, enriching discussions, and contributing to the improvement of proposed solutions.

How it was different from the first pilot round

Both hackathons organized by Sunrise Tech Park were dedicated to the Soil Mission: one focused on the issue of overfertilization and nitrogen overuse, while the second addressed soil remediation from oil contaminants. Thanks to the first hackathon, we had already built a solid database of research institutions and companies working on soil-related topics, which made outreach and communication for the second event smoother.

During the Toksika hackathon we had many first-timers: from hackathon organizer, challenge provider to mentors and participants.  Organising such a international event for the first time could have been overwhelming, but the structured approach provided by the Bioboosters framework made it all fluent. Clearly defined steps, practical checklists, and a well-organized hackathon path and regular meetings with Bioboosters partners  offered valuable guidance throughout the process.

Support from Bioboosters network

Following the success of the first hackathon, expectations were high for the next. With strong support from the Bioboosters network, the results exceeded all expectations. The challenge attracted 20 applications, 75% of them international, even surpassing the number received during the first hackathon organized by Sunrise Tech Park.

This remarkable outcome would not have been possible without the active scouting efforts of other partners within the Bioboosters network. Their outreach enabled us to connect with potential solution providers we would not have reached on our own, where the local ecosystem offers only a limited number of viable solutions.

The high level of international interest not only enriched the quality of proposals but also brought increased visibility and attention to the issue of petroleum-contaminated soil, helping to elevate its importance on a broader scale.

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