Learn and experiment
In the morning, attend a Google for Education masterclass on Gemini, NotebookLM and responsible AI use. The operational instructions will specify which tools may be used in the challenge.
10 UNIVERSITIES / 3 REGIONS / ONE CHALLENGE
Google Challenge
2026
Turn your ideas into reality with Google AI.
A collaborative challenge with students from HAMU universities: learn to use Google AI, then work with your team to develop a solution to one of the proposed problems.
The essentials for taking partFriday · Initial stage
At three venues
Free participationIndividual applications
01 · Registration
Application deadline
02 · Initial stage
Training and Challenge
03 · Final stage
By the end of 2026University of L’Aquila
10universities
3regions
5–7students per team
4project themes
WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE?
A collaborative challenge.Different universities, shared ideas.
The Google Challenge HAMU combines training and teamwork to tackle problems affecting the local area or community using Google AI. In the morning, you attend the Gemini Academy for Student; in the afternoon, your team chooses one of the organisers’ proposed themes and develops a solution. Wherever possible, teams bring together students from different universities and fields of study.
Work with your team
Apply individually; the organisers form teams to bring together different skills and academic backgrounds. In the afternoon, choose a theme and work together on an original solution.
Present your idea
Develop an original proposal, explain how you used AI and present your project to the judging panel. Selected teams progress to the final in L’Aquila.
THE REGULATIONS AT A GLANCE
What to know before taking part.
Eight essentials to help you apply and understand what to expect during the Challenge.
Who can take part
You must be enrolled in a bachelor’s, master’s or single-cycle master’s degree at a HAMU university, with tuition fees up to date at the deadline. GSSI may also admit first- and second-year PhD students. You must remain enrolled until the final stage ends.
How to apply and what costs to expect
Applications are individual and participation is free. Complete the form by 3 November 2026; incomplete or late applications are excluded. There are no expense reimbursements or cash prizes.
The organisers assign your team and venue
You do not need an existing team. Teams have 5–7 students, bringing together different skills and universities wherever possible. Your assigned venue may be outside your own university.
Develop and present a proposal
Your team chooses one of 4 proposed themes. In the initial stage, you have up to 4 hours to develop your proposal and 7 minutes to present it to the judging panel, which may then ask questions.
Declare AI use and check the content
Use only permitted tools and sources, explain how you used AI and check its outputs. Your proposal must be original and respect third-party rights. Do not enter personal data, confidential information or content you are not allowed to use.
How your work is assessed
Assessment covers innovation, impact on the local area or community, technical feasibility, quality of AI use and presentation clarity. All venues use the same grid, with a maximum of 100 points.
The route to the final
Up to 36 teams progress to the final at the University of L’Aquila, according to the rankings and admission rules. You keep the same theme and may refine your project. The final is assessed independently, with one winning team per theme.
What happens to your project
Taking part does not transfer project rights to the organisers or Google. You grant the universities a free, non-exclusive, non-transferable five-year licence for the institutional uses set out in the regulations, excluding commercial exploitation.
MORNING · TRAINING
Understand first. Then create.
A Google for Education masterclass to help you navigate generative AI and use it thoughtfully in your studies, research and the Challenge.
Gemini Academy for Student
- Around 2.5–3 hours
- In the morning
- In person at the three venues
Use AI responsibly
Academic integrity, transparency and ethical AI use, with a discussion of the European framework and the AI Act.
Ask better questions
Prompting techniques, critical evaluation of responses and integrating AI into study and research processes.
Work with sources
Gemini and NotebookLM for analysing sources, synthesising concepts and structuring the ideas you will develop in the challenge.
The session includes interactive moments, such as developing a prompt together with the instructor. It is a demonstration-based masterclass; hands-on teamwork takes place during the afternoon Challenge.
Training takes place in the morning, followed by a lunch break and the Challenge. The organisers will send the timetable to participants.
THE JOURNEY
Save the dates.
From your application to the final, here are the stages of the Challenge.
Application deadline
Venue announcement
By this date, you will receive your assigned venue for the training and the Challenge.
Training and Challenge
Gemini Academy masterclass in the morning and preliminary stage in the afternoon, at three venues. The timetable will be sent to participants.
- By the end of 2026
Final in L’Aquila
The final takes place at the University of L’Aquila. The date, room and timetable will be sent to participants.
4hours maximum to develop your proposal
7minutes maximum to present
The judging panel may ask questions after the presentation.
HOW TO TAKE PART
Bring your skills.We’ll put the team together.
Apply individually. The Challenge is open to students duly enrolled in a bachelor’s, master’s or single-cycle master’s degree at a participating university, with tuition fees up to date at the application deadline.
The Gran Sasso Science Institute may also admit first- and second-year PhD students. You must remain enrolled until the end of the final stage, to be held by the end of 2026. The Organising Committee may exclude anyone who does not meet the requirements, including retrospectively.
Read the full eligibility requirementsASSESSMENT
From ideas to impact.
A shared assessment grid across all venues, with a maximum of 100 points. Final-stage assessment is independent of the preliminary stage.
36teams at most in the final
Up to three teams per theme at each venue, with place reallocation as set out in the Regulations. One winning team for each theme.
- Innovation30 points
- Impact on the local area or community25 points
- Technical feasibility20 points
- Quality of generative AI use15 points
- Presentation clarity and quality10 points
In collaboration with
Official HAMU website · h-amu.it
HAMU UNIVERSITIES
Three regions, ten universities.
A university network across Abruzzo, Marche and Umbria. The preliminary stage takes place at three venues assigned by the Organising Committee.
Abruzzo
Preliminary-stage venue
Università degli Studi “Gabriele d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara
Host university confirmed. The room and address will be announced.
Marche
Umbria
Your assigned venue may differ from your home university and will be announced within the stated timeframe.
BEFORE YOU APPLY
Challenge documents.
Eligibility, rules and information to help you prepare your application.
NEED TO KNOW
Frequently asked questions.
What language will the training be delivered in?
Official Gemini Academy slides and materials are in English. The masterclass may be delivered in Italian or English, depending on the participants; the language will be communicated to participants. Using English for projects and pitches is encouraged.
How should I prepare to access the tools?
Check with your university that your institutional account is available and that the relevant services are enabled. The operational instructions will explain platform access and which tools may be used during the challenge.
Do I need to have a team already?
No. Applications are individual and the organisers form teams of 5 to 7 participants, bringing together students from different universities and fields of study wherever possible.
Will I take part at my own university?
Not necessarily. The Committee assigns your venue, which may differ from your home university, at least seven days before the challenge. The University of Chieti-Pescara hosts one of the three venues. Rooms and addresses will be announced by the organisers.
Which artificial intelligence tools can I use?
Only those specified by the organisers. Additional applications, sources or tools are permitted only if expressly allowed by the operational instructions. You must declare your use of AI, verify generated content and respect third-party rights and personal data instructions.
Are expenses reimbursed or cash prizes offered?
The Regulations do not provide for reimbursement of expenses or financial support from HAMU universities, cash prizes or other financial benefits. Winning teams may receive certificates, mentions or other recognition with no monetary value.
Can I take part as a PhD student?
The Regulations allow for the possible admission of first- and second-year PhD students at the Gran Sasso Science Institute. At other universities, eligibility covers bachelor’s, master’s and single-cycle master’s degree programmes.
Where will the results be published?
Results will be published on the institutional websites of the universities concerned, constituting official notification. Comments must be submitted within 24 hours and may concern only manifest clerical errors, arithmetic inconsistencies or evident breaches of the criteria. Article 12 excludes challenges to the merits of the assessment or comparison; Article 18 preserves the administrative and judicial remedies provided by law.
Who owns the projects?
Participation does not transfer project rights to the universities or Google. The Regulations grant the universities a free, non-exclusive and non-transferable licence for five years, for the institutional and communication purposes specified in Article 13, with attribution to the authors. Commercial exploitation, sublicensing and transfer of rights to Google or others are excluded. Presentations may be public, and disclosure may affect the ability to obtain patents or other industrial property protection.
Must I consent to recordings in order to take part?
The Regulations provide for a specific notice covering photographs and audio and video recordings. Where consent is required for use of a person’s image, it is obtained through a separate, specific and revocable declaration. Refusal does not affect participation or assessment of the project.