AUB Mediterraneo and DiGiNN Conclude Successful “Smart Paphos 360° Hackathon,” Showcasing Student Innovation for a Sustainable City
Pafos, Cyprus – December 15, 2026: The American University of Beirut - Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) ), in collaboration with the European Digital Innovation Hub of Cyprus (DiGiNN), successfully hosted the Smart Paphos 360° Hackathon on December 6–7, 2025. The two-day innovation challenge brought together talented university students from across Pafos to design technology-driven solutions that support a more sustainable, inclusive, and forward-thinking city.
The Hackathon was coordinated by AUB Mediterraneo representatives Dr. Alain Daou, dean of the Faculty of Business; Dr. Christodoulos Pavlou, lecturer in Business and Economics; and Ms. Maria Kamenias, Community Outreach Officer. The team worked closely with academic, industry, and municipal partners to ensure the event’s strategic alignment, smooth execution, and strong engagement across stakeholders.
The hackathon was co-organized with DiGiNN, which is co-funded by the European Union’s Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) and the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy. Additional support was provided by Alphamega of the Papaellinas Group, and the Paphos Chamber of Commerce. Both generously sponsored the monetary awards for the two winning teams.
Seven interdisciplinary student teams participated in the competition, benefiting from specialized training delivered by PwC Cyprus, a member of DiGiNN. Additionally, throughout the two days, the participants collaborated closely with experienced mentors, including industry professionals, government officials, and academics, to refine their concepts and prepare for the final pitch.
The first-place award was presented to Smart Beach, by Afanasii Suslov, Artur Vergiles and Egor Safronov for their development of an innovative environmental sensor that communicates key beach-water metrics, such as temperature and clarity, through a mobile application, while maintaining full respect for the natural ecosystem. The second-place award went to E-Nomad, by Sali Tamimi, Omar AlHajj Ahmad, Gabriella Ziade and Haya El-Hinawi for creating an application that enhances event discovery in Pafos, helping users identify and access cultural and social experiences, improving visibility for local venues, and suggesting efficient routes to attend them.
AUB Mediterraneo extends its appreciation to the judging committee, including Konstantina Ioannou, Manager at PwC Cyprus, Thanasis Christofides, Head of Smart City Projects at the Municipality of Pafos, and Dr. Andri Ioannou, Professor of Learning Design and Technology at the Cyprus University of Technology and CYENS Centre of Excellence, for their invaluable expertise and thoughtful evaluation of the student teams. Additionally, the Hackathon wouldn’t be as successful if it weren’t for the dedicated mentors, organizers and volunteers of the 2-day event.
Reflecting on the success of the Hackathon, Dr. Christodoulos Pavlou, lecturer in Business and Economics at AUB Mediterraneo, reiterated the university’s commitment to innovation-driven education. “The Smart Paphos 360° Hackathon provided students with a real-world platform to turn ideas into meaningful solutions for our city. What stood out most was their ability to combine creativity, technical skills, and social awareness in such a short time. Events like this highlight the transformative role that universities can play in shaping a more sustainable and innovative Pafos.”
The Smart Paphos 360° Hackathon reinforces the growing collaboration between academia, industry, and local stakeholders in Pafos. By providing students with hands-on opportunities to address municipal priorities, such as sustainability, digital transformation, cultural engagement, and environmental stewardship, the event contributes to long-term capacity building and fosters ideas with real potential for implementation.
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About The American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo
The American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) in Pafos, Cyprus, is approved by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) as a branch campus of the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Beirut, Lebanon. AUB operates under a charter granted by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) which registers the university’s degree programs. All departments and programs at AUB Mediterraneo are accredited in Europe and Cyprus through the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Higher Education (CYQAA) and recognized globally.
