Synergy / People Power People hackathon @ Into the Great Wide Open

How do we design energy systems that don't just survive disruption but grow stronger because of it?

Welcome to Synergy 2026, a three-day collaborative hackathon where innovators, system thinkers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, technologists, artists and energy pioneers come together to design the foundations of a resilient energy future.

This is not a typical hackathon. Synergy is a collaborative development sprint for system change where breakthroughs emerge at the intersection of disciplines, perspectives and scales. Set against the backdrop of Into the Great Wide Open, one of the Netherlands' most distinctive outdoor festivals on the island of Vlieland, we bring the living lab to a truly off-grid environment.

🌍 The theme: Resilience by Design

In 2026, Synergy focuses on one urgent question: How do we make energy systems resilient by default?

Resilience means systems that can absorb shocks, adapt to change, and become stronger through disruption. Teams will work on real, partner-driven challenges connected to three levels:

• 🔭 Macro – Energy autonomy, secure supply chains, robust infrastructure
• 🏙️ Meso – Resilient cities and regions, future-proof grids, system integration
• 🏘️ Micro – Energy communities, local hubs, flexible neighbourhoods, empowered users

The most powerful ideas connect multiple scales at once.

🛠️ What teams will work on

During 48 hours, teams will innovate, prototype and collaborate around real resilience challenges. Note: challenges are confirmed prior to the event and may be updated before publication.

⚡ LOCAL
Keeping busineses running and homes warm, affordable and energy secure, even when the going gets tough.

🏘 COMMUNITY
Building neighbourhoods abd business areas that can thrive together.

🌍 SYSTEM
Strengthening the energy infrastructure, policies and principles that our societies and nature depend on.

🏝️ Why Vlieland?

Vlieland is one of the most remote and energy-constrained islands in the Netherlands which makes it the perfect living lab. Into the Great Wide Open festival transforms the island into a temporary city. Combine that with the realities of island energy infrastructure, and you have an unmatched real-world testbed for the ideas you'll develop.

⚡ What you'll do

Over three days, multidisciplinary teams will:

• Explore a real resilience challenge in depth
• Map the system you are intervening in
• Challenge existing assumptions and "defaults"
• Prototype new models, mechanisms, tools or collaborations
• Present a system-level intervention, not just a single product

Breakthroughs can be technical, digital, financial, organisational, regulatory or social.

🌱 Who should join?

Energy innovators & startups · Grid, mobility and infrastructure experts · Digital & data specialists · Policymakers & public innovators · Investors & finance designers · Community builders & cooperatives · Artists, designers & storytellers.

If you care about energy, resilience and systemic change and want to build across boundaries this is for you.

🛏️ Accommodation: slaapschepen

A limited number of spots are available aboard our slaapschepen (sleeping boats). A unique way to stay on the water during the hackathon. These spots are available at cost (approx. €90 per person per night, including breakfast) and can be added during registration. Only 50 spots available. First come, first served.

🤝 Commitment & no-show policy

Participation in Synergy Hackathon is free. However, because catering and logistics are planned based on confirmed participants, we ask for a genuine commitment. Registered participants who do not cancel at least 7 days in advance and fail to attend will be invoiced for catering costs. The exact amount will be communicated before the event. By registering, you agree to this policy.

🚀 Join us

The energy transition is no longer only about sustainability. It is about resilience, autonomy and thriving in uncertainty.

Join Synergy Hackathon 2026 · 25–27 August · Into the Great Wide Open · Vlieland

Let's design energy systems that are stronger, smarter and more human by design.