Intel Physical AI Challenge | European Robotics House
AI is great on screen, but have you ever made it move?
Welcome to the Intel Physical AI Challenge!
This weekend, we're taking AI models beyond the screen and giving them grippers, eyes, and the ability to sense, reason, and act in the real world.
The 2nd European Robotics House Hackathon brings together some of Europe's most talented robotics builders in Zurich for 40 hours of hands-on innovation. You'll work with Intel®️ Core™️ Ultra Series 3-powered laptops, robotic arms, cameras, and open-source software to build a working Physical AI solution.
And you won't be doing it alone. Five Intel engineers will be on-site throughout the event to help you experiment, troubleshoot, optimize, and bring your ideas to life.
The prizes?
🥇 1st place: €5,000
🥈 2nd place: €3,000
🥉 3rd place: €2,000
📅 Event information
Dates: Friday, December 4 – Sunday, December 6, 2026
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Team size: 3–4 people
Duration: 40 hours of hacking
🤖 The challenge:
Can you build a robot that sees, thinks, and acts?
Your challenge is to develop a Physical AI solution that uses computer vision to identify defective objects, makes intelligent decisions, and directs a robotic arm to physically sort them.
You'll bring together perception, AI reasoning, and real-world robotic action, then optimize your solution using Intel hardware and software.
It's your opportunity to move beyond AI models and build something that actually moves.
What you'll get
A complete robotics workstation: SO-101 robotic arm, cameras, and an Intel Core Ultra Series 3-powered laptop.
Developer tools: Access to Intel's open-source Robotics AI Suite, Physical AI Studio, and OpenVINO.
Hands-on technical support: Intel engineers on-site to help you build, troubleshoot, and optimize.
Food and refreshments: Food, coffee, and drinks available throughout the event.
A community of builders: Collaborate with talented robotics developers, researchers, and innovators from across Europe.
🚨 Accommodation is not provided. Participants are responsible for arranging their own lodging, although the venue will remain accessible overnight for teams who want to keep building.
🕒 Event schedule
Friday, December 4 | Late afternoon to evening
Doors open, participant check-in, and Intel's hands-on technical workshop. The hackathon officially begins following the workshop.
Saturday, December 5 | Full hacking day
Build, test, troubleshoot, and optimize your Physical AI solution. Intel engineers will be available during scheduled support hours.
Sunday, December 6 | Morning to early evening
Final development, live demonstrations, judging, and the winners' ceremony.
⚠️ Important: All teams must attend Friday's Intel workshop and official hackathon kickoff to qualify for participation.
About the partners
Intel
Intel is helping developers bring AI out of the digital world and into real-world robotics. Intel®️ Core™️ Ultra Series 3 processors combine CPU, GPU, and NPU capabilities on a single chip, enabling developers to run AI, perception, and control workloads on an integrated computing platform.
For this hackathon, Intel is providing Core Ultra Series 3-powered laptops, open-source development tools including Robotics AI Suite, Physical AI Studio, and OpenVINO, and onsite engineering expertise to help participants turn their models into working robotic solutions.
Ignite Next
Ignite Next is a deep-tech scale-up program based in Dresden, Germany, in the heart of Silicon Saxony. The program helps founders build semiconductor and Physical AI companies through collaboration with industrial and technology organizations. Ignite Next is helping organize this challenge to connect with the next generation of European robotics innovators.
European Robotics House
European Robotics House is a three-month residency in Zurich, bringing together 15 exceptional builders working to create Europe's next generation of robotics companies. The initiative was created by EuroTech Federation, ESRA, and Edelweiss (EIII).
🚨 Spots are limited!
If you can no longer attend, please cancel your registration as early as possible so another developer can take your place.
See you in Zurich. Let's build the future of Physical AI