In September 2025, Vidzeme Planning Region, in collaboration with project partners from PoliRuralPlus and the innovation NGO NovoFutura, will organize a two-stage regional development hackathon titled D2D – Data to Develop. The hackathon invites municipal professionals to co-create practical tools that improve the way regional development is evaluated and planned using data. The D2D hackathon aims to prototype a unified monitoring framework tailored to the Vidzeme Planning Region`s Development Programme, ensuring medium-term and long-term alignment with regional priorities and local citizen needs.

The hackathon responds to a growing need for improved data availability, comparability, and interpretability in local and regional development processes. Challenges such as fragmented data sources, inconsistent indicator definitions, and a lack of automated tools have limited the strategic use of data across Latvian municipalities. The D2D hackathon seeks to tackle these issues head-on by facilitating collaboration among municipal staff, national and regional authorities, and AI and data experts.

Two-Part Collaborative Process

The hackathon will unfold in two distinct phases:

Phase 1 – Online Kick-off and Preparation (September 3):
An interactive 4-hour online session will introduce participants to key challenges in development data, including issues of access, structure, and usability. Through expert presentations and group discussions, participants will examine the current use of indicators across sectors such as education, social services, mobility, and environment. This phase will culminate in the formation of thematic teams and the assignment of practical tasks to reflect on data practices within their own municipalities.

Phase 2 – In-Person Hackathon Day in Smiltene (September 19):
Held at Smiltene Technical School, the full-day in-person session will bring teams together to refine indicator sets, draft sector-specific evaluation frameworks, and experiment with AI-based tools developed within the PoliRuralPlus project. Participants will define data structures, assess the relevance and frequency of data collection, and test digital tools on real or sample datasets.

Throughout the hackathon, participants will receive support from experts in data analytics, public policy, and regional development. Outputs will be evaluated and commented on by representatives from Vidzeme Planning Region, sectoral ministries, and PoliRuralPlus partners.

Shared Evaluation Model for Municipalities

The ultimate goal of the D2D hackathon is to create a prototype for a shared evaluation framework that municipalities and regional authorities can adopt and further refine. This collaborative effort not only fosters regional innovation but also advances alignment with broader EU priorities such as the Green Deal, the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas 2040, and the New European Bauhaus.

Approximately 50 participants representing various stakeholder groups are expected to join, including representatives from all 10 municipalities of the Vidzeme Planning Region. Participants will include sectoral specialists, strategic planners, data officers, and decision-makers working on territorial development at the local level.

Following the event, the synthesized results and frameworks will be compiled and submitted to the Vidzeme Planning Region as a foundation for broader regional implementation and knowledge-sharing across Latvia and other European regions.

For more details, visit: www.novofutura.lv/hakatons

This hackathon is organised as a part of the PoliRuralPlus Mobilise Call, co-funded by European Union to promote AI- based, community-driven solutions in regional development.