The DIGIFABS SME Goes Digital Challenge is designed to bridge the gap between academic talent and real-world business needs. Its core mission is to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Food & Beverage sector embrace digital transformation while giving students hands-on experience with practical challenges.
The Challenge is built around four key objectives:
- Define and Manage Roles
Multidisciplinary student teams—combining business, engineering, and nutrition expertise—work together with clear responsibilities to ensure balanced contributions. - Create Efficient Workflows
Teams follow a structured timeline from September to December, using collaboration tools like MS Teams, Miro, and Google Drive to stay organised and productive. - Align Tasks with Deliverables
Every activity connects to tangible outputs: an SME Handbook with recommendations, a Team Report, a Proof of Concept, and a Final Pitch. - Foster Creativity and Collaboration
Through design thinking, prototyping, and iterative feedback, students develop innovative solutions that respond directly to SME needs.
The Challenge builds through a series of dynamic activities:
- Kick-off Meeting
Teams meet SMEs and facilitators to set expectations, define roles, and establish collaboration norms. This session builds trust and clarity from day one. - Weekly Work Sessions
Regular online meetings create rhythm and accountability. Teams review progress, tackle challenges, and plan next steps. - Hackathon Sprints
Intensive 1–2-day workshops accelerate prototype development and creative problem-solving. These high-energy events often mark key milestones in the project. - Brainstorming Sessions
Structured ideation sessions unlock bold, diverse ideas and help teams refine concepts before moving to prototyping. - Pitch Event
The grand finale! In January 2026, student teams present their solutions to a jury of experts and SME representatives, showcasing creativity, feasibility, and impact.
Throughout the Challenge, collaboration tools and structured workflows ensure transparency and efficiency. Facilitators guide teams, SMEs provide feedback, and students learn how to turn ideas into actionable solutions for businesses working to integrate digital transformation.