Press release: #b_hack 2023: Empowering youth in the Baltic Sea Region to combat disinformation

In a bid to tackle disinformation and explore the intersection of technology, democracy and the environment, young IT enthusiasts from the Baltic Sea Region will flock to Lübeck, Germany from 6 to 9 July 2023 to attend the first Baltic Sea Region Hackathon 2023, or #b_hack.

“Probably never before have young people from so many countries in the Baltic Sea Region worked so closely together on digital and democracy issues. Smart solutions and the best ideas come when we combine our perspectives”, said Dirk Schrödter, Minister of Digitalization in Schleswig-Holstein. “Digitalization – in combination with artificial intelligence – helps us to build strong tools with which we can secure our digital sovereignty and with which we can foster peace, prosperity and sustainable growth in the Baltic Sea Region.”

The Hackathon, a pioneering collaboration between the Land Schleswig-Holstein, the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), and the Technische Hochschule Lübeck (TH Lübeck), has attracted about 50 young tech and communication enthusiasts aged 18-25 hailing from various Baltic Sea Region countries. The event is financed by the Land Schleswig-Holstein.

During the three-day event, participants will notably work on tackling echo chambers, bot detection on social networks, deep fake creation, and journalistic forms of media disinformation. They will also delve into the worlds of artificial intelligence text detection, visualisation of marine and environmental data, and fair budget allocation in a democratic context. 

The technical supervision will be handled by the TH Lübeck.

The outcomes of the #b_hack will be showcased on the final day on July 2023, offering an exciting opportunity for participants to present their innovative solutions to their peers and policy-makers. 

Notably, the closing event will be graced by the presence of Dirk Schrödter, Head of Chancery of Schleswig-Holstein, and Werner Schwarz, European Affairs Minister of Schleswig-Holstein. Their presence underscores the importance attached to the outcomes anticipated from this Hackathon, strengthening the commitment towards cultivating an informed and proactive youth in the Baltic Sea Region.

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Media contacts

CBSS: Dominik Littfass [email protected] Tel.: +46 76 116 67 53

TH Lübeck: Johanna Helbing [email protected] Tel.: +49 160 742 33 69

Land Schleswig-Holstein: Daniel Müller [email protected] Tel.: +49 170 9258977

Note to editors:

1. Media event: Media representatives are cordially invited to participate in the closing event at the campus of the TH Lübeck on 9 July 2023 at 11:00, take photos and video footage, and conduct interviews. The location is Building 25, Room 25-0.01, at the corner of Bessemerstrasse and Stephensonstrasse, 23563 Lübeck. Media registration at [email protected] is requested. Parking is available in car park P2. The campus map can be found here: https://intranet.th-luebeck.de/dokumente/Plne%20und%20bersichten/THL_Campusplan.pdf
2. #b_hack info PDF (in English): https://cbss.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/b_hack-infosheet-2023.pdf
3. #b_hack info webpage: https://cbss.org/event/baltic-sea-region-hackathon/
4. About the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS): Established in 1992 by the Foreign Ministers of the Baltic Sea countries, the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) is an intergovernmental organisation comprising 11 members: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the European Union. It fosters collaboration and trust in the region while navigating new geopolitical landscapes. Serving as a platform for political dialogue, the CBSS coordinates with various stakeholders such as ministries, national agencies, IGOs, and NGOs to pursue its three long-term priorities: Regional Identity, Safe & Secure Region, and Sustainable & Prosperous Region. The organisation is currently focused on action areas including human trafficking, child protection, youth, civil protection, climate change, sustainable maritime economy, and sustainable development. The CBSS’s strength lies in its involvement in both regional policy-making and implementation, ensuring effective translation of global goals from organisations like the UN and EU into actionable policies and projects at the Baltic Sea macro-regional level. Read more about our priorities and work: https://cbss.org/priorities/
5. About Digitalization in Schleswig-Holstein: Schleswig-Holstein recognized the importance of digitalization early on and is addressing the issue strategically. The northernmost state of Germany is one of the most active German states in the use of AI and is the first federal state to launch its own AI strategy. Schleswig-Holstein supports small and medium-sized enterprises in the use of AI. The state has a large number of computer science study places at its universities compared with the rest of the country. This has given rise to a young and dynamic digitalization scene. The focus of AI activities is on medicine or the healthcare industry, the maritime industry and also agriculture or the food sector. The use of AI is to contribute to the sustainable development of Schleswig-Holstein. AI solutions for the central challenges of climate protection and the energy transition are being promoted.
6. About TH Lübeck: Established in 1969, Technische Hochschule Lübeck is committed to strengthening society and people. TH Lübeck focuses on application-oriented learning, teaching and research and connects Science, Economy and Society. As a University of Applied Sciences TH Lübeck provides solutions for Technical, Methodical and Social Issues that are made for people and their immediate living environment. TH Lübeck unites approximately 5.270 students, 137 professors and 330 employees. More than 35 degree programs are anchored in four departments: Applied Natural Sciences, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration. With more than 80 laboratories, 4 Centers of Excellence and 30 Specialist Groups TH Lübeck works with approximately 10 Mio. € p.a. external funding.