FAU AI Innovation Challenge

At Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), we take pride in being one of Europe’s most innovative and research-oriented universities. With a strong focus on partnerships and internationalization, FAU is committed to attracting and collaborating with global talent to tackle pressing societal and technological challenges.

The FAU AI Innovation Challenge exemplifies our vision: to identify and collaborate with exceptional students from top universities, fostering a new generation of researchers and innovators who will shape the future.

What’s in it for you?

  • Compete with the best minds.
  • Win prizes from a pool of €10,000 and gain international recognition.
  • Secure a potential fast-track for FAU’s very competitive Master’s programs.
  • Gain exposure to cutting-edge research topics and global academic and research leaders.
  • Open doors to future collaboration with one of Germany’s top research institutions.

By participating, you not only get to engage with cutting-edge challenges but also become part of our vibrant academic and research community that values excellence, creativity, and impact.

Compete for 10,000€ in prizes!

Take on the challenge and compete for your share of an impressive €10,000 prize pool! The competition features four exciting challenges, each designed to test your creativity, problem-solving skills, and expertise in relevant computer science topics.

Each challenge will award the first three ranked submissions with 1500/700/300 Euros respectively. You can choose to participate in just one challenge, several or all four – the decision is yours! Whether you focus on your strengths or push yourself to tackle every challenge, the opportunity to win big and showcase your talent is within reach.

Your submissions will be judged with regard to the degree of challenge fulfilment and innovation by a panel of renowned FAU faculty and experts.

The Challenges

Four challenges from various fields mirroring the diversity of excellence at FAU await your input and innovative ideas.

(1) Kalah Game Agent Challenge

Kalah is one of the oldest games of mankind, but remains far from trivial for artificial agents. Show your Game-AI development skills and innovation prowess by building a Kalah agent that can beat all others. Let it play with other agents for practice, and then enter the final competition.

Click here to get to the challenge.

(2) Font Group Recognition Challenge

This competition investigates the performance of recognizing different fonts (actually font groups) in text lines of historical prints (15th and 16th century). Participants have to submit the most likely font group for lines of font groups.

Click here to get to the challenge.

(3) Cybersecurity Challenge

This challenge reflects FAU’s commitment to advancing cybersecurity and privacy – a vital field in today’s interconnected world. Put your cybersecurity skills to the test on the topics forensic, binary exploitation, reverse engineering and web exploitation. Have fun and happy hacking.

Click here to get to the challenge.

(4) ChromoPredict Challenge

Discover the science of color in the ChromoPredict Challenge! Use the names of dye molecules to predict their color class. But there is more to it than meets the eye — each color is rooted in molecular structure. Are you ready to connect the dots?

Click here to get to the challenge.

Welcome to the Department of Computer Science at FAU

At the Department of Computer Science at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), we are at the forefront of innovation, education, and research. Our department is recognized globally for advancing cutting-edge fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cyber-Physical Systems, and Human-Centered Computing.

Our research priorities reflect a strong commitment to tackling the technological challenges of tomorrow.

Key focus areas include:

  • Machine Learning, Data Analytics, and Knowledge-based Systems: Pushing the boundaries of intelligent systems to unlock new insights from complex data.
  • Cybersecurity and Privacy: Ensuring the safety and reliability of digital systems in an interconnected world.
  • Embedded and Distributed Systems: Developing smart, scalable technologies.
  • Visualization and Interaction: Enhancing how humans and machines collaborate through innovative interfaces.

By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and leveraging partnerships with leading global institutions and industry partners, we aim to translate research into impactful applications. (Our students and researchers benefit from a rich ecosystem of support, including state-of-the-art facilities, entrepreneurial opportunities, and access to FAU’s renowned innovation hubs.)

Show us your talent!

Do you have what it takes to stand out in the competitive world of Artificial Intelligence? The Department of Computer Science at FAU, home to one of the most sought-after AI Master’s programs with over 5,000 applications per semester and similarly attractive programs, is searching for the brightest minds to join our ranks. With only 100 newly enrolled students per semester, we aim to attract exceptional talent ready to shape the future of AI in academia and industry. Excelling in this challenge could lead to an invitation to apply to FAU’s highly competitive Master’s programs, where you can continue to develop your skills and achieve academic excellence.

Participate in our challenge(s), showcase your skills, and secure your place among the best. Are you ready to rise to the occasion? Your journey to excellence starts here!

Who Can Participate?

The FAU AI Innovation Challenge 2025 is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s program at a university that is either anabin-approved (H+) (international) or accredited in Germany (anabin does not rate these).

Please note that FAU members, including students, are not eligible to participate. This ensures a fair competition and opens the door for fresh talent to shine on an international stage!

How to participate?

Ready to take on the FAU AI Innovation Challenge? Here’s how you can join:

  1. Check the Eligibility Criteria
    Ensure you meet the participation requirements listed above. Only eligible candidates can compete.
  2. Choose Your Challenge(s)
    Decide whether you want to tackle one, several, or all of the challenges. The choice is yours!
  3. Register Online
    Use the provided links for each challenge to sign up and gain access to the problem descriptions.
  4. Solve the Problem
    Put your skills to the test and craft a solution for the chosen challenge(s).
  5. Submit Your Entry
    Submit your solution as per the procedure outlined in the specific challenge, along with:
  • A concise report (maximum three pages) explaining your approach, thought process, and methodology.
  • A CV highlighting your skills, education, research/projects and achievements.
  • Top Performers Will Be Invited to a Pitch-Interview
    The top three to five participants for each challenge will be invited to a pitch-interview with our selection committee. This is your opportunity to further demonstrate your talent and stand out!

Show us your skills and take the first step toward joining FAU’s vibrant computer science community!

Timeline

The FAU AI Innovation Challenge 2025 follows a structured timeline to ensure smooth execution and ample time for each phase:

  1. Kickoff: The challenges will officially launch on January 08, 2025.
  2. Submission Deadline: All entries must be submitted by 23:59 on February 23, 2025.
  3. Evaluation: Submissions will be reviewed from February 24 – March 7, 2025, by a panel of esteemed FAU faculty and experts.
  4. Interviews for Top Performers: Shortlisted participants will be invited for interviews between March 10 – March 21, 2025.
  5. Announcement of Results: Winners will be announced on March 31, 2025. Top performers will also receive an invitation to connect with FAU faculty for further opportunities.
  6. April 2025: Selected participants are invited to apply for FAU’s Master’s programs with further support.

Academic Integrity & Plagiarism

At FAU, we believe in fair competition and academic integrity. We expect participants to adhere to these principles by submitting original work. While collaboration and discussion are encouraged to foster innovation, all solutions must be independently developed and submitted.

Plagiarism, code copying, or the use of unauthorized assistance will lead to immediate disqualification. To ensure transparency, our review process includes:

  • Rigorous checks for originality using advanced tools.
  • Detailed evaluations of submitted reports and code.

Participants are encouraged to be authentic and take pride in their unique ideas — this is your opportunity to showcase your skills and creativity.