Catalyst - AI for Protein Intelligence Hackathon
A 24-hour hackathon at the frontier of Advanced Protein Design and Structural Biology!
Join us in Zürich for Catalyst, a high-intensity weekend where biology meets computation. Whether you are an computer scientist, a bioinformatician, a biologist, or a chemist, this is your chance to build real-world tools and hack the next big life science challenge.
🗓️ When & Where
Dates: May 30th – 31st, 2026
Location: ETH Student Project House Höngg, Zürich, Switzerland
Cost: Free (Food, drinks, snacks, and compute resources provided!)
🚀 Two Tracks, One Mission
Choose your focus and collaborate with industry leaders:
Track 1: AI for Cofolding (Powered by Apheris x OpenFold) Master the complexity of protein interactions and push the limits of structural accuracy.
Track 2: Binder Design & Lead Optimization (Powered by Adaptyv Bio x BioIncubate) Create de novo binders or evolve leads by optimizing for Affinity, Stability, Solubility, or Specificity. Winners will get wet-lab validation!
🤝 The Launch Event
May 12th - ETH Alumni Pavillion (Zentrum)
Join our introductory event for a dedicated evening of track briefings from our sponsors, skill-matching activities, and a networking apéro.
Don’t have a team? This is where you build one.
Unsure which track to tackle? This is where you’ll get the insights to decide.
👉 More about the Catalyst Launch Event and sign up here
🛠️ The Weekend Experience
May 30th - The Build
A high-intensity weekend of pure hacking begins! Get hands-on support with mentor office hours featuring industry scientists and workshops on data handling and protein design tooling.May 31st - The Grand Finale
Pitch your prototype to a jury of scientists, engineers, and ETH faculty.
🏆 Prizes
Winners receive mentorship, cash prizes, and unique opportunities for experimental validation of their designs.
❓ Who should join?
We are looking for students (BSc, MSc, PhD) and early-career researchers. You don't need to be a bioinformatics expert, interdisciplinary teams win! If you know Python and are excited about biology, you belong here.
No team? No problem. Apply solo and meet people at the kick-off event. We will help you find a squad of 3–5 people.
🎒 What to bring
Your laptop and charger.
A sleeping bag (if you plan to hack through the night).
Curiosity and a willingness to learn.
Ready to hack at the frontier of AI & Protein Intelligence ? Register now!
Learn more at https://www.bioincubate.ch/catalyst