OpSciHack 2026

About this event

Less Waste, More Discovery Open Tools for Sustainable, Efficient and Reproducible Research OpSciHack 2026 is a two-day open science hackathon organised by early-career researchers from Open Innovation in Life Sciences (OILS). On 3–4 October 2026, up to 40 participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds will work in interdisciplinary teams to develop practical solutions for more sustainable, efficient and reproducible research. Under the theme “Less Waste, More Discovery”, teams will tackle practical open science challenges. These may address issues such as environmental waste in research, underused data, duplicated effort, and knowledge loss when negative results or failed protocols go unshared. Final challenge topics will be announced closer to the event. Event at a glance Participation: Free of charge; application and confirmation with a refundable deposit of 20 CHF required. Light meals, snacks and refreshments will be provided throughout the event. Who can apply? You do not need to be a researcher or have a coding background to apply. We welcome students and professionals from all disciplines who are interested in open science and collaborative problem-solving. Team size: 2–4 people. You can apply with an existing team or as an individual—we will help you meet new teammates and form a team. Technical level: No hard coding required. Depending on the challenge and approach, projects may involve data analysis, configuration files or shared code repositories. As an event partner, Lovable will provide free credits for AI-assisted prototyping and vibe coding. Sponsors: Roche (REDS Fund) Socorex Life Science Zurich Partners: Center for Reproducible Science and Research Synthesis Citizen Science Zurich Socorex Lovable Digital Research Academy Nucleate URPP Adaptive Brain Circuits in Development and Learning (AdaBD) BioEntrepreneurship & Innovation (BEI) program Additional partners and contributors will be announced as they are confirmed. Organisers: Open Innovation in Life Sciences Spots are limited. Apply to hack! Refundable attendance deposit: Participation is free, but a refundable CHF 20 deposit is required as a confirmation of attendance. The deposit will be refunded in full after the completion of the event and confirming your attendance during the event. The deposit will also be refunded in case of spot unavailability. Please note that this deposit is received to ensure a smooth organisation of the event and avoid last-minute cancellations and no-shows. Last-minute cancellations and no-shows may result in the deposit being retained, except in cases of illness or other unforeseen circumstances. About OILS Open Innovation in Life Sciences (OILS) is a Zurich-based non-profit association led by and for early-career researchers under the umbrella of Life Science Zurich. OILS creates opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange, open innovation, professional development and collaboration across academia, industry and the wider life-science ecosystem. If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]