GMU Students Among Award Winners at Illuminathon 2026 – 'Light on Gdynia'

As Gdynia Maritime University, we had the pleasure of supporting this event as a Strategic Partner. We are pleased to have been part of an initiative that develops creativity, promotes collaboration, and demonstrates the potential within the combination of knowledge, imagination, and modern technologies.

Over 24 hours, teams worked on their ideas, transforming initial concepts into specific solutions. Participants experimented, tested options, and built prototypes with the support of mentors representing various fields. Thanks to their knowledge and experience, the teams were able to develop their projects, refine solutions, and view the challenges from new perspectives.

The mentors from our University included: Patryk Krawulski, Dr Kalina Detka; Dr Monika Rybczak, and Monika Ziemska-Osuch. Representing diverse areas of expertise – from 3D printing and electronics, through artificial intelligence and robotics, to intelligent transport systems – they supported participants in developing ideas and translating them into innovative solutions.

The participation of GMU experts in the Illuminathon exemplifies the University’s commitment to fostering innovation, supporting creative initiatives, and advancing collaboration between the academic community and the socio-economic environment. It was also an opportunity to share knowledge and experience and to inspire the search for new technological solutions.

The 24-hour creativity marathon culminated in presentations before the jury, during which the teams presented the results of their work and demonstrated the developed solutions.

The competition jury comprised: Professor Ireneusz Czarnowski, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science at Gdynia Maritime University; Julia Kul, Deputy Dean of the Intermedia Field of Study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk; Marcin Młyński, Co-founder & CEO of CODE:ME; and Maria Maślak, Director of the Pomeranian Science and Technology Park Gdynia.

The event was also attended by Oktawia Gorzeńska, Vice-President of the City of Gdynia.

The winners in the Next Stage category included two projects by our students:

• 1st place – LEDY HMI – an audio visualizer that converts ambient sounds into light effects.
• 2nd place – Klikacz HMI – an interactive arcade game testing reflexes and reaction speed.

In the From Scratch category (projects conceived and implemented during the Illuminathon), 3rd place was awarded to the Lighthouse Team, comprising students of the Faculty of Computer Science, who developed and presented a web application enabling the tracking of Gdynia’s trolleybuses, buses, and ships on an interactive map. The team also presented this application as an educational tool allowing users to learn the history of public transport in Gdynia.

We extend our warm congratulations to the winning teams. We also express our appreciation to all participants who committed to the challenges, developed their concepts, and tested new ideas.

The Illuminathon is much more than a competition. It is primarily a space for exchanging knowledge, developing skills, and facilitating collaboration among individuals with diverse interests and experience. The event demonstrates what can be achieved through combining different perspectives, maintaining an openness to experimentation, and pursuing solutions collaboratively.

At Gdynia Maritime University, we particularly value initiatives that create opportunities to combine theoretical knowledge with practice and encourage a creative approach to new technologies. Supporting such undertakings is an essential element in building an environment that fosters innovation, the exchange of experience, and the development of young talent.

This year’s edition, inspired by the centenary of Gdynia, once again proved that imagination and technology can go hand in hand, and that even the least obvious ideas can serve as the starting point for interesting projects.

As a Strategic Partner, we thank the organisers for preparing an event that inspires action and creates space for new ideas. Words of appreciation also go to the mentors who shared their knowledge and experience, supporting the teams at successive stages of their work.

We would like to congratulate the participants on their courage, creativity, and determination in delivering their projects and wish the winning teams continued development of their concepts and further successes.

We are pleased that, as Gdynia Maritime University, we could be part of an event that brings people together, inspires innovation, and illuminates Gdynia with new ideas.