AI Builders Challenge with IBM Bob 2026
IBM SkillsBuild
📌About the Event
AI Builders Challenge with IBM Bob 2026 is a global AI innovation challenge designed for college and university students to build real-world AI solutions using IBM technologies. The challenge helps participants develop practical AI skills, create portfolio-ready projects, and showcase their solutions to a global audience. The program includes learning resources, monthly innovation challenges, and opportunities to compete for a total prize pool of $15,000.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Organized by: Eclipse Foundation’s Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) Working Group
- Mode of Conduct: Offline, in-person hackathon
- Venue: Zeppelin Universität gemeinnützige GmbH, Friedrichshafen, Germany
- Event Duration: 3 days (hands-on coding, collaboration, and prototyping)
- Event Dates: 6 October 2026 to 8 October 2026
- Theme: Building innovative solutions for the future of Software-Defined Vehicles using open-source automotive technologies.
- Tracks Available:
- Hackathon Track: Build new solutions and prototypes addressing SDV challenges.
- HackFest Track: Contribute directly to Eclipse SDV open-source projects through pull requests, issue completion, and community contributions.
📅 Important Dates
- Mode of Conduct: Online / Virtual
- Event Duration: July 2026 – September 2026
- Type of Event: Global AI challenge and virtual conference
- Participation Format:
- Participants can learn through AI learning resources and the IBM Bob virtual conference.
- Students can build AI-powered solutions through monthly innovation challenges.
- Participants can submit their projects and compete for prizes.
- Technology Focus:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Generative AI
- AI-powered application development
- IBM Bob AI development tools
- Real-world AI problem solving
🎯 Eligibility & Rules
- Eligibilty:
- Open to college and university students globally.
- Students from technical and non-technical backgrounds can participate.
- Participants must be interested in building AI-based solutions and developing AI skills.
- Participation Rules:
- Participants can participate individually or as a team (team size may vary depending on challenge requirements).
- Projects should focus on solving real-world problems using AI technologies.
- Submissions should demonstrate the use of IBM technologies and AI development practices.
- Participants are encouraged to use IBM Bob as part of their development workflow.
🏆 Benefits for the Participants
- Prize Pool: Total prizes worth $15,000.
- Winners get an opportunity to showcase their AI projects to a global audience.
- Participants gain hands-on experience in AI development using industry tools.
- Opportunity to build portfolio-ready AI projects.
- Access to IBM learning resources and AI skill development opportunities.
- Exposure to IBM experts, technical sessions, and AI community networking.