Austrian Award-Winning Projects
FRUTURA
HTL BULME (Graz, Austria)
Objective: Enhance Efficiency of the energy output of PV facilities of the company futura.
Solution: Combination of different solutions: Ice storage, selection of the most efficient battery, energy communities
Challenge: Finding correct data and finding evaluation criteria, that will be valid in the long run
Industrial IT & Smart Automation – Green Energy Solutions for Holztechnik Zwickl GmbH
HTL BULME (Graz, Austria)
Objective: Develop a comprehensive energy concept for the sawmill in Schrems, integrating available PV modules into the existing energy system.
Solution:The final product of the project was a comprehensive, technically grounded energy optimization concept for the Holztechnik Zwickl GmbH sawmill in Schrems, Niederösterreich. The student team developed a full-scale prototype design combining photovoltaic expansion, thermal energy recovery, and battery storage simulation
Challenge: Renewable Energy
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Integration for Merkscha Furnierwerk
HTL BULME (Graz, Austria)
Objective: Reduce electricity drawn from the grid, maximising the use of self-produced renewable energy
Solution: A multi-component energy optimization concept including – PV expansion, battery storage system, intelligent energy management and recommendations and heat-recovery improvements
Challenge: renewable energy
Italian Award-Winning Project
Automation prototype of an automatic gate
I.P.I.A. G. Ferraris (Iglesias (CI), Italy)
Objective: Reduce the excessive waste production of electrical, electronic and mechanical items.
Solution: An automation prototype of an automatic gate build with more than 90% of recycled materials.
Challenge: Circural economy, Green Construction
The Environment is Our Home: Earth is Our Home, Only Together We Can!
Instituto Superiore A. Casanova (Napoli (NA), Italy)
Objective: the creation of a greenhouse that consumes less water and electricity than traditional ones to conduct extra-curricular activities of students with disabilities enrolled at the Institute.
Solution: Realization of a Sustainable Automated Greenhouse within the VET school.
Challenge: Water scarcity, Circular Economy, Renewable Energy
CINIRI App: Turning a Problem into a Resource – Our Ash Challenge
Liceo Statale Ettore Majorana (Nicolisi (CT), Italy)
Objective: to transform volcanic ash into an economic resource, rather than disposing of it as pyroclastic municipal waste.
Solution: An innovative app that guides citizens and businesses in smart ash recycling.
Challenge: Circular Economy
Portuguese Award-Winning Projects
PR NA ROTA DO OVO DO REI/SR (Small Route)ON THE ROUTE OF THE KING'S EGG
Agrupamento de Escolas de Arganil (Arganil, Portugal)
Objective: On the Route of the King’s Egg” promotes environmental sustainability and local economic development through a certified hiking route and mobile app that immerse visitors in the region’s mushroom biodiversity, gastronomy, and cultural heritage.
Solution: It created an eco-digital tourism product—a mobile app and hiking route—that connects visitors with nature, local producers, and restaurants, fostering biodiversity protection and community-based economic growth.
Challenge: The project addressed the depopulation and economic stagnation of low-density territories like Arganil, where biodiversity and local products were undervalued and lacked sustainable tourism promotion.
Biodiversity Protection with AI
Escola Profissional de Espinho (Espinho, Portugal)
Objective: Biodiversity Protection with AI” applies artificial intelligence to monitor and protect wildlife by detecting animals in risk zones and preventing accidents, combining technological innovation with biodiversity conservation.
Solution: It developed an AI-powered prototype using Raspberry Pi and cameras to detect animals in real time and emit deterrent sounds, contributing to biodiversity protection and environmental sustainability.
Challenge: The project addressed the threat to local wildlife caused by human activity and renewable energy infrastructures, where animals are often exposed to hazardous areas without effective monitoring systems.
Intelligent Waste Separation
Escola Básica e Secundária Pública Hortênsia de Castro - Agrupamento de Escolas de Vila Viçosa (Vila Viçosa, Portugal)
Objective: EcoBOT is an intelligent system that uses artificial intelligence, sensors, and automation to identify and sort waste, promoting efficient recycling and environmental education within the community.
Solution: It developed an AI-powered robotic system capable of automatically sorting waste and educating users through an interactive interface, combining technology, sustainability, and community engagement.
Challenge: The project addressed the lack of efficient waste separation and low public engagement in recycling, contributing to excessive waste generation and poor environmental awareness.
Spanish Award-Winning Projects
Muévetex: digital platform to improve transport in rural areas
IES Sierra la Calera (Santa Marta, Spain)
Objective: Improve transportation and thus access to other opportunities in rural areas through the development of a digital platform for transport planning/management within the local community
Solution: A mobile or web application to identify rural transport routes, connect users and facilitate access to services.
Challenge: Sustainable transport
Pequeños Grandes Amigos
IES Francisco de Orellana (Trujillo, Spain)
Objective: Promote participation and social inclusion, creating age-friendly communities; for example, through social participation, respect, inclusion, lifelong learning, and environmental conservation and community biodiversity.
Solution: Two activities serve as a common thread: a vertical garden and an insect hotel. These technological activities include systems with NFC codes and humidity sensors. Among these devices, the rewritable buttons stand out, which use proverbs as a means of oral transmission of the natural wealth and biodiversity of our environment: these devices reproduce rhymes and proverbs to bring them closer to the little ones and help them memorize the names of insects.
Challenge: Biodiversity, Environmental awareness
We are Water
IES Javier García Téllez (Cáceres, Spain)
Objective: This project aims to teach students the importance of conserving water, promoting sustainability and applying innovative solutions to environmental challenges through a series of workshops and practical activities.
Solution: The creation of a hydroponic system is presented as an innovative and sustainable solution to water scarcity and the growing demand for food.
Challenge: Water & human health, Water scarcity
Do you have ideas for changing the world through vocational training?
Following the great success of the first Eco-Digithon, the call for participation in the next edition, scheduled for 2026, is now open. Click here to apply.
call for participation from 15 September 2025!
