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The international hackathon “Inherit the Past. Code the Future” was officially opened at the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics

On 26 May 2026, the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics in Svishtov officially launched the international hackathon “Inherit the Past. Code the Future.” The event is part of the activities within the prestigious European university alliance KreativEU. Under the inspiring motto “Inherit the Past. Code the Future,” the large-scale initiative brought together 30 international participants in Svishtov, including 23 outstanding students and 7 mentors from the alliance’s universities, ready to test their strength, creativity, and technological skills.
A tv on a table AI-generated content may be incorrect.A group of people sitting at a table with flags AI-generated content may be incorrect.

A group of people sitting at tables in a room AI-generated content may be incorrect.A group of people sitting at a table AI-generated content may be incorrect.

The Rector of the Academy, Assoc. Prof. Marin Marinov, welcomed the participants and guests with a motivating academic address. He highlighted the key role of Svishtov as “the town of 100 firsts” and cradle of Bulgarian economic education, encouraging young innovators to explore and discover technological solutions for the future of Europe’s cultural and historical heritage.
In her welcome, Assoc. Prof. Marusya Smokova, KreativEU project coordinator for the Academy, emphasised the philosophy behind the motto “Inherit the Past. Code the Future,” noting that the past is not only something we preserve, but something we reinterpret, reinvent, and transform into a foundation for the future through technology, artificial intelligence, and human imagination. She highlighted that the hackathon is not merely a competition but a complex educational experience that fosters international collaboration, innovation, and the development of key skills such as communication, leadership, teamwork, and entrepreneurial thinking. In conclusion, she inspired participants to be brave, different, and creative, wishing them to collect emotions, create memories, build friendships, and never be afraid to think boldly in the days ahead.
A key moment in the opening was the presentation by Chief Assistant Dr. Evgeni Ovchinnikov. He introduced the official hackathon assignment, which challenges the participants with two main tasks to be solved during the 24-hour core event. Dr. Ovchinnikov highlighted the detailed three-day programme and announced the official distribution of participants into interdisciplinary teams.
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A group of people wearing matching t-shirts AI-generated content may be incorrect.A group of people posing for a photo AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Assoc. Prof. Aleksandrina Alexandrova – coordinator of Work Package 5 of the KreativEU project for the Academy – presented the programme and the fun challenges prepared for the participants.

In honour of the Day of Bulgarian Literacy and Culture, the organisers surprised the audience with an original approach to cultural heritage. As a symbol of spirituality and innovation through the centuries, each newly formed team received a unique name based on a letter from the ancient Bulgarian Glagolitic alphabet. Thus, the teams embarked on their journey toward the digital transformation of history.


A group of people sitting at tables in a room AI-generated content may be incorrect.A computer on a table with people sitting at tables AI-generated content may be incorrect.

A group of people posing for a photo AI-generated content may be incorrect.A group of people posing for a photo in front of a building AI-generated content may be incorrect.
The first day continued dynamically with a workshop on “AI in Business Decision-Making” and exciting team-building games across emblematic places in Svishtov, including a city scavenger hunt and the tactical game Gelsoft Crossfire. All of this prepared the teams for the 24-hour hackathon, which begins on 27 May 2026 at 10:00.

A group of people posing for a photo in front of a building AI-generated content may be incorrect.

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.