Students are challenged to build software that bridges social gaps, empowering the elderly, people with disabilities, and marginalized communities.
2026 Submissions
| Project | Description | Mentor | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ImmHelp | The service which can provide easier adaption for immigrants and aliens in Cyprus. It includes the general simplification in governmental activies, such as an easy access to the Cyprus laws and constitution, despite the language barriers, including technology of Artificial Intelligence, the AI assistant which with target audience can ask question regarding Cyprus Law, immigration brochure generation, as well as the provision of the contact which can help with the certain offline activities, such as Real Estate Agents, Accountants, Lawyers and so on. This app can be useful not only to the target audience of immigrants and aliens, but also to the companies based in Cyprus, which are actively recruiting new employees. | UpcoMinds | |
| CiviCy | This project proposes a Civic Technology application that enables verified Cypriot organizations to securely deliver official notifications (such as bills and service updates) to citizens through a trusted digital channel. The system is designed to protect marginalized groups—including elderly people, immigrants, and individuals with low digital literacy—from scams and misleading messages. By centralizing verified communication, the platform reduces fraud, confusion, and digital exclusion. The project emphasizes human-centered design, accessibility, and social impact within the Cypriot context. | Panaline Ltd. | |
| Dyslexia Support Browser Extension | Web extension that modifies webpage text into dyslexia-friendly formats. Provides adjustable fonts, spacing, background colors, and integrated text-to-speech. Includes readability scoring for educational content. Designed for compatibility with common LMS platforms. | INQUIRY FUSE | |
| Accessible Navigator | A mobile application that helps people with disabilities, especially wheelchair users, find and navigate accessible routes by showing locations of ramps, elevators, and barrier-free paths on a map. It includes an Augmented Reality (AR) navigation feature that overlays real-time directions and accessibility indicators, such as arrows and obstacle warnings, onto the user's camera view, making navigation more intuitive and easier to follow in real-world environments. | Campeon Gaming | |
| Cultural Inclusion Storytelling Map | Interactive storytelling platform where minority communities upload narratives linked to geographic locations. Includes multimedia support (text, audio, images). Map-based visualization promotes cultural visibility. Moderation tools ensure respectful engagement. | Experimental Venturres Ltd. | N/A |
| Anonymous Mental Health Support Chat | Secure and anonymous peer-support chat platform with moderation features. AI-assisted risk detection flags high-risk messages for escalation. Emphasis on encryption, privacy-by-design, and ethical safeguards. Includes referral routing to professional support services. | Noesis | |
| Social Isolation Monitoring Dashboard | Anonymous platform where users self-report social isolation indicators. Aggregated and visualized through geospatial heatmaps. NGOs access anonymized dashboards for targeted outreach planning. Privacy-preserving data aggregation required. | Panis.News | N/A |
| Community Skill Match | Community Skill Match: a platform that connects citizens reporting local problems with community members who have the skills to solve them. Verified solutions promote collaboration, empower underserved communities, and support social inclusion through accessible digital participation. | Jinius by Bank of Cyprus | |
| Inclusive Micro-Learning App | Gamified short-course platform focused on essential digital skills. Designed specifically for older adults or low-skilled users. Tracks progression through badges and milestones. Emphasizes accessibility and usability testing. | NOVATEX SOLUTIONS LTD | N/A |
| AI-Powered Cyprus Sign Language Translator | Web-based assistive technology platform designed to break down communication barriers faced by the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Cyprus. The system uses artificial intelligence and real-time hand landmark detection to recognize Cyprus Sign Language (KNΓ) gestures through a webcam and convert them into text, while also translating written text back into guided sign animations. | MindTheGame | N/A |
| AI-Powered Sign Language Training Tool | A real-time, AI-powered web application that translates Cyprus Sign Language gestures into text using machine learning and hand landmark detection, while also enabling reverse communication through guided sign animations — making communication between deaf and hearing individuals seamless and accessible. | ConnectDeaf Ltd. | N/A |
| SenseWalk AI: Advanced Spatial Awareness for the Visually Impaired | A mobile-based assistive application utilizing edge-AI and Computer Vision to detect dynamic threats (e.g., fast-approaching silent vehicles) and head-level obstacles (e.g., branches, signs) that traditional white canes fail to identify. The system features a zero-click, hands-free interface, relying entirely on progressive haptic feedback and spatial audio to alert users of impending hazards in real-time. By combining a radically simplified user interface with powerful backend logic, this tool empowers visually impaired individuals to navigate complex urban environments safely, removing critical barriers to their independence and promoting genuine social inclusion. | HardwareX | |
| EcoHome - Smart Appliance Scheduler | A mobile smart-home app that targets individuals who face economic challenges. The application helps users reduce excess electricity costs by scheduling appliances based on energy availability. Users enter the times they plan to use their home appliances, and the scheduler provides multiple optimized options via REST APIs, allowing users to select their preferred schedule. The app tracks environmental and financial benefits by displaying data such as self-consumption, cost-effectiveness, and CO₂ reduction. An AI assistant guides users through the schedule selection process, explains schedule efficiency, and offers energy-saving tips. | AInfinite Ltd. | |
| DigiThreatWatch | This innovative scam detection system is designed specifically to protect older adults by acting as a real-time, objective 'second opinion' against evolving digital and telephonic fraud. At its core, the platform features a highly accessible web application where users can easily upload screenshots, paste suspicious text messages, or provide voice recordings of potential scam attempts. These multimodal inputs are instantly processed by the Gemini Flash API, which seamlessly handles image recognition, audio transcription, and natural language analysis to detect psychological manipulation tactics like false urgency or authority impersonation. Simultaneously, the system's backend extracts concrete entities—such as URLs and phone numbers—and cross-references them against up-to-date threat intelligence databases, including the Google Safe Browsing API, PhishTank, and Truecaller. By synthesizing the Gemini Flash behavioral analysis with hard data from these known threat repositories, the system generates an immediate, easy-to-understand response that rates the possibility of a scam as a percentage, provides a clear explanation of the detected threat, and offers actionable next steps to empower the user to stay safe. | IBSCY LTD | |
| DVI (Digital Vulnerability Index) | The Digital Vulnerability Index is an AI-powered assessment tool that identifies how susceptible individuals are to digital scams by analyzing their interaction patterns during simple online tasks. Instead of detecting scams themselves, the system measures hesitation, misclicks, navigation difficulty, and decision making under uncertainty to generate a personalized vulnerability score. Users receive tailored micro-lessons to strengthen their digital confidence, while NGOs can access anonymized insights to support at-risk communities. This solution proactively protects vulnerable groups before harm occurs, promoting safer digital participation. | Citizens In Power |
Our Partners
UpcoMinds
Panaline Ltd
Inquiry Fuse
Campeon Gaming
Experimental Ventures Ltd
Noesis (SME)
Panis.News
Jinius (Bank of Cyprus)
Novatex Solutions Ltd
Mind The Game
ConnectDeaf Ltd
HardwareX
AInfinite Ltd
IBSCY LTD
Citizens In Power (CIP)Partners
CyRIC
CSI
Frederick University
Emphasys
Supporting INVESTech
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
ERASMUS-EDU-2023-PEX-COVE-101143958 — INVESTech (Innovation Vocational Excellence and Sustainability in Tech)
Additional sponsor details will be announced soon.
Key Dates
Project development and online mentorship period.
3-Day Intensive Hackathon.
Semi-Final Pitching Day.
INVESTech Skills Competition Finals (International Teams).
Top 2 CY teams travel to Lithuania for EU-level competition.
Recognition
The best performing teams will be awarded with exceptional prizes to be announced soon!
Join Us
Join INVESTech Skills Competition 2026 in empowering the next generation of innovators to create real societal impact.
Engage directly with talented software engineering students
Strengthen visibility through university and EU-level events
Showcase commitment to innovation & social responsibility
Watch Live
Don't miss a moment. Our live stream will be active right here during the event.
Reach Out
Reach out for inquiries, partnerships, or general information.
achilleas.achilleos@frederick.ac.cy