Coppe AI Hackathon 2026: real data, real challenges, AI-powered solutions
Planeta COPPE / Business Incubator / Innovation Ecosystem / News
Date: 19/08/2026

How can artificial intelligence help address the challenges of the energy transition?
That is the question driving Coppe 2026 AI Hackathon, organized by the Coppe/UFRJ Business Incubator and Made in Rio, in partnership with the National Electric System Operator (ONS), AWS, LNCC, and the City of Rio de Janeiro, and sponsored by OceanPact, Visagio, Sebrae, and Faperj.
The challenge will bring together students, professionals, researchers, and startups to develop artificial intelligence solutions applied to real-world problems in the energy transition and decarbonization.
And there’s a unique feature: participants will have access to ONS data, which they can explore to identify patterns, test hypotheses, and develop solutions capable of supporting decision-making and contributing to an efficient and resilient energy transition.
AI Solutions for real-world problems
The expansion of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, presents new challenges for the operation of the electric grid. In certain situations, generation from these plants must be reduced or suspended due to transmission grid constraints.
This process, known as curtailment, can result in a waste of clean energy and have economic and operational impacts; it will be one of the challenges addressed at the Hackathon.
With access to historical data from the ONS, participants will be able to investigate the conditions associated with these curtailments, identify patterns. and develop AI models and tools that help to understand and reduce their impact.
Participants will be able to tackle this and other challenges, with opportunities to turn data into ideas, ideas into prototypes, and prototypes into solutions.
You don’t need to arrive with a fully formed team
Applications can be submitted individually, by teams (fully or partially formed), or as startups. Those selected will participate in an Ideathon, which will feature a specific process for generating solution proposals through the formation of multidisciplinary groups.
Each team will consist of five members:
- 1 project manager / Scrum Master
- 3 developers
- 1 specialist with expertise in energy transition, the electric power sector, oil and gas, sustainability, decarbonization, public policy, the energy market, the carbon credit market, or related fields.
A journey that begins before the Hackathon
All registrants will be able to participate in preparatory training sessions with AWS, NVIDIA, ONS, and Coppe itself.
Afterward, the selected participants will move on to the Ideathon and the internal development phase, where they will have the opportunity to refine their ideas and build the first version of their prototypes.
At the in-person Hackathon, which will take place at Instituto 12 in Rio de Janeiro, the three top-performing teams will receive awards. The details of the awards and any additional prizes offered by partners will be announced on the official website before the in-person phase.
All participants will receive certificates of participation. The most outstanding solutions will be invited to move forward, with the possibility of participating in acceleration programs or other follow-up initiatives promoted by COPPE’s Business Incubator,Rio City Hall, AWS, and other partners, supporters, and sponsors.
Applications now open
Applications are open until September 4.
- Online training: September 8–10
- Ideathon: September 11–13
- In-house development: September 14–24
- In-person hackathon: September 25–27
- Location: Instituto 12 – Leblon
- Address: Avenida Ataulfo de Paiva, 120, Leblon
Sign up and come work with real data, cutting-edge technology, and concrete challenges related to energy transition.
Registration: hackathon-ia.coppe.ufrj.br
