Episode III - May The Darkness Be With You: DIY Winter Challenges – Life Hacks & Tech Hacks 

Spark Ideas. Connect People. Master the Cold Season.

Whether you’re a student, researcher, or an enthusiastic innovator, this is your chance to connect across diverse tech fields - such as automation, digital connectivity, electronics, energy solutions, health technologies, safety systems, smart environments, wellbeing innovations, community engagement, and outdoor technologies.

The Life Hacks and Innovation Fair is designed to spark new ideas, foster collaboration, and inspire everyone through hands-on engagement and inventive solutions for mastering the cold season.

Join the event as a participant to explore and be inspired, or step up as a hack contestant to pitch your own solution—solo or with a team, the Force is with you!

The “May the Darkness Be With You” theme draws playful inspiration from Star Wars, inviting you to channel your inner inventor, explorer, or Jedi as you tackle the season’s opportunities and obstacles.

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Dive into innovation at tech booths and hear expert insights from Bittium Biosignals, iLOQ, Keysight Technologies Finland, and Siili Solutions.

Event Schedule (Updated)

12:00 – Event opens

12:00–15:30 – The Innovation Hub

• Explore cutting-edge ideas and build connections with partner companies and collaborators
• Gain inspiration from the showcases of Tech & Life Hack contestants (12:00-13:00 & 14:00-15:30)
• Network & collect 5+ stickers from the booths to receive a pizza voucher (redeemable at 15:30)

12:00–15:30 – The Rebel Survival Trials

• Recharge and connect at the Vitamin D Cantina (Tasting of Yoda Glow Smoothie & Vitamin D)
• Build resilience and Legos at Hoth Survival Station (Refueling with a hot chocolate drink & Star Wars lego ideas)
• Flex Your Finnish and play board games (Try the pilot version of Finnish learners' discussion cards for ICT experts with four different game modes)

13:00 – The Force of Innovation: Tech & Life Hack Pitches

• 2-minute pitches of the Tech & Life Hack contestants + Q&A

14:00 – Engaging the Corporate Alliance!

• Expert talks from partner companies & collaborators + Q&A

15:30 – The Final Verdict: Glory Awaits

• The Council announces the Tech & Life Hack competition winners

15:30 – Celebration, pizza and networking

16:00 – Group photo

16:30 – Event ends

Partner companies: Bittium Biosignals, iLOQ, Keysight Technologies Finland, and Siili Solutions

Contributors: Art of Darkness project, GenAI team

Council i.e. Jury selecting the Tech & Life Hack Winners: Representatives of the partner companies & collaborators

Why Participate?

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Choose your mission and become a true Jedi of Innovation! Dive into DIY challenges or bring your own project idea and showcase your talent to industry experts.
  • Register for a Life Hack or DIY Tech Hack here.
    By filling out this form, you will receive guidance to ensure the readiness for the final episode - the pitching day (November 21st).
  • Prizes include tickets to the Polar Bear Pitching (1 full-day ticket & 2 afterparty tickets).
• Cast your vote for your favorite Life-hack projects!
• Collect at least 5 stamps from booths/expert talks and get a pizza voucher redeemable at 15:30
• Network with professionals and peers, exchange ideas, and build meaningful connections.
• Get inspired by expert talks, practical demos, and real-world stories from the field.
• Enjoy the ITEE Trilogy atmosphere with snacks and casual conversations.

This event is open to all - especially students, doctoral researchers, staff members, alumni, company experts, and enthusiasts of technology and innovation. November 21st is the day to bring your children to work and you are welcome to bring your children to this event!

Register to participate today: https://link.webropol.com/s/may-the-darkness-be-with-you

Fore more information about the hacks: May the Darkness Be With You Event Invites You to Share and Explore Life & Tech Hacks | University of Oulu

Please note: the programme may be updated.

Supported by: the IKAPO project, funded by the European Union, the ELY Centre for North Ostrobothnia, and the University of Oulu, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering.