This ISE initiative has established itself as a platform for collaboration, innovation, and future-oriented thinking.

In an era where technological advancements are rapidly transforming industries, the demand for young, innovative minds has never been greater.

Recognizing this need within the professional audiovisual (pro AV) and systems integration sectors, Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) launched the ISE Hackathon in 2025 — an initiative designed to attract and nurture new talent in a dynamic, ever-evolving industry.

The ISE Hackathon brought together sixty talented university students, selected as finalists from across Europe, to solve real-world technological challenges in the field of audiovisual innovation, demonstrating the power of determination and teamwork.

The competition featured three challenge categories:

• Sustainability, sponsored by Philips Professional Displays
• Innovation, sponsored by EIT Culture & Creativity
• Cybersecurity, sponsored by Hikvision

Each category was designed to inspire creativity and critical thinking within the pro AV and systems integration industries.

Participants were divided into teams and given a specific challenge from one of the three categories, working closely with expert mentors from the sponsoring companies. These mentors played a key role in helping students overcome technical obstacles, resolve internal disagreements, and maintain team morale, ensuring that every group stayed focused and engaged.

Shaun Reardon, Principal Cybersecurity Consultant at DNV AS, served as a jury member for the Cybersecurity category and co-developed the challenge together with Hikvision.

The ISE Hackathon gave students an incredible opportunity to showcase their creativity, develop problem-solving skills, and collaborate with like-minded peers. Watching them grow and achieve was truly inspiring. Beyond highlighting the future stars of the industry, I have no doubt that participating in the ISE Hackathon will open professional doors for these students, said Reardon.

Recognizing talent

Each team presented their solutions on ISE’s Innovation Park Pitching Stage, and the winners were announced during the closing ceremony of the event. The winning teams received medals, trophies, recognition, networking opportunities, and unique experiences provided by sponsoring partners.

Mike Blackman, Managing Director of Integrated Systems Events, commented: “The inaugural ISE Hackathon was a tremendous success and perfectly embodied ISE’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of AV pioneers. Thank you to our three sponsors — Philips Professional Displays, EIT Culture & Creativity, and Hikvision — for making it possible. We invite more companies to join us in addressing the skills gap in the AV industry. By participating, companies can not only support the development of new professionals but also gain access to fresh perspectives and innovative solutions. Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant AV community”.

Winners of the ISE Hackathon 2025:

• Sustainability Category: Thea Kjønstad Johnsen, Shiba Elise Pakzamir, Erik Heimstad Tangen, and Danilo Milicevic (Esade University, Barcelona)
• Innovation Category: Nora Marthinsen, Kaja Jæger, Julia Conradsen, and Helena Fossum (Esade and BI Norwegian Business School)
• Cybersecurity Category: Anora Azimora, Elizaveta Earstova, and Veronika Borysiuk (EU Business School)

Participating in the ISE Hackathon was an amazing experience that gave us the perfect opportunity to explore different career paths, learn how to transition into the corporate world, and prepare for life after university. I encourage others to take part: it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to challenge yourself, meet new people, and discover career possibilities. Even if you don’t win, you gain valuable experience and expand your network. This experience has made me more confident and open to new opportunities. Before the Hackathon, I had a general idea of what I wanted to do, but now I see so many paths I hadn’t considered. Sometimes what you end up doing isn’t what you originally planned, and that’s okay. This event opened my eyes to possibilities I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise, said Danilo Milicevic from the winning Sustainability team.

The winning Sustainability team was invited to visit PPDS headquarters in Amsterdam. During this exclusive two-day program, the students gained behind-the-scenes insights into a major industry brand and learned more about how sustainability and security drive the development of Philips Professional Displays products.

Vicky Fox, Head of Global Communications at PPDS, commented: “In addition to our sessions with the teams, we discussed how careers can take shape — sometimes from unexpected beginnings — and how the focus on sustainability and energy efficiency not only transforms how we do business or design products, but also challenges technical minds to dig deeper and innovate. Our time with Thea, Shiba, Erik, and Danilo was incredibly rewarding. We’ll be following their careers with great interest and look forward to meeting next year’s teams at ISE 2026”.

Looking ahead: careers in the AV industry

The ISE Hackathon is much more than a competition: it’s a launchpad for innovation, learning, and real-world impact.

Designed to inspire the next generation of talent in the audiovisual and systems integration industries, the Hackathon offers students a unique opportunity to collaborate, tackle real challenges, and connect with industry leaders.

It’s an experience that builds confidence, opens doors, and can spark ambitions that define future careers.