What is AI Cup?
AI Cup is a nationwide competition uniting the Netherlands’ brightest minds to tackle real-world challenges from society with AI.
While most AI competitions only prioritize model accuracy in a predefined metric, AI Cup also evaluates how the system effectively implemented considering the broader context.
Once the competition is finished, Epoch will work closely with the challenge provider to facilitate the implementation of the winning model.
Build meaningful AI
You design, train an implementable AI system that solves a real sustainability or societal challenge.
Compete on a fair playing field
Designed for students. No GPU arms race, no hidden metrics, no leaderboard tricks.
Show yourself on a national stage
Compete against top engineering & AI students from 5+ universities – and present at the Dutch AI Congress from AIC4NL.
The Challenge (2026)
Millions of birds migrate across the same airspace where we are expanding wind energy. This creates a growing conflict between sustainability and biodiversity.
Participants are tasked to build AI systems to predict bird movement and support smarter decisions — reducing collisions while enabling efficient energy production.
Read more about the challenge in the 2026 challenge center.
Challenge Provided by:
Team Epoch and the challenge provider will further develop the top solutions toward real-world use.
Timeline (2026)
AI Cup 2026 had three in-person events; Kick-off, Nomination and Award days. The programme was full of opportunities for networking with students and industry talks. Below you will find an overview of the entire programme.
Kick-Off Day
Friday – 13/02/2026
📍Mondai | House of AI , TU Delft
On the kick-off day participants learned about the challenge, created teams, learned more about AI and got a flying start to the competition.
AI Futures Day
Saturday – 28/03/2026
📍De Doelen – Schouwburgplein 50, Rotterdam
We brought together 300+ AI students and 10+ leading AI companies for a full day dedicated to AI, careers, and the future of the field.
The top 5 AI Cup 2026 teams that made their way to the finals were also revealed.
Award Day
Tuesday – 14/04/2026
📍DeFabrique in Utrecht
Award day was the finale of the AI Cup where the finalists will showcase their work at the Dutch AI Congress, in front of 200+ AI companies, after which the winner was announced.
Find the complete congress program here.
Winners AI Cup 2026
1st Place: Stochastic Gulls Descent
Congratulations to Andreas Tziakouris, Filip Morawiec, Mateusz Marciniak, Petr Ivan, & Tadeáš Fryčák
2nd Place: Geto-Dacians
Congratulations to Simion Polivencu, Sinan Ceviker
3rd Place: TeamGazo
Filip Boekema, Lorenzo De Paris, Pietro Cartocci, Simon Huwaert, & Vince Lukacsi
4th Place: Determined
Ángel Pedraza Ruiz, Hongchen Yang, Mohammad Zeeshan, Niek Drenth, & Zhuoyang Lai
5th Place: Echo
Congratulations to Albert-Alexandru Sandu, Alexander Ojica, Alexandra Carutasu, Daniel-Ionuț Popovici, & Vlad-George Iftode
Team Epoch – TU Delft’s AI DreamTeam
We design and build real AI systems for government, NGOs, and international competitions.
We wanted a competition where students build AI that actually gets used – so we created one.
AI Cup makes applied AI tangible and accessible for students across the Netherlands & beyond.
AIC4NL – Connecting you to the national AI ecosystem
AIC4NL is the Netherlands’ largest AI network, with over 400 organisations and 7 regional hubs working on responsible AI development and application.