We are proud to announce another outstanding achievement by the students of the Department of Computer Science of Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman! This year, the KNEU team, under the guidance of Academic Mentor Prof. Olga Mozgalli, won the main prize — the "Best Team Award" — at the prestigious international competition “Annual Student Innovation Challenge 2026”.

The founder and leader of this large-scale project is Professor Markus Helfert, Professor of Digital Service Innovation at Maynooth University and Director of the Innovation Value Institute, Centre for Data and Digital Research. Thanks to his strategic vision, genuine passion for his work, and comprehensive support, the Challenge has become a unique platform where students from all over the world can share their scientific achievements and creative solutions.

UNUM, the long-standing sponsor and reliable partner of the Annual Student Innovation Challenge, prepared a wonderful surprise for all participants this year. In addition to the incredible and symbolic Grand Trophy — an elegant lamp serving as a beacon of knowledge — the company provided each contest participant with a €50 gift voucher.

This year, all matters related to organization, planning, and communication among participants, mentors, and sponsors were managed by postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Azra Aryania. Thanks to her flawless work, it was possible to ensure true synergy among all teams, mentors, and industrial partners this year.

The 2026 competition was marked by an exceptionally high level of competition, bringing together leading higher education institutions from around the world. Teams from Ireland (Maynooth University), Ukraine (Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman and Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas), Germany (Technische Hochschule Deggendorf), Kenya (Aga Khan University), and the USA (Ball State University) came together in an uncompromising intellectual battle.

The main theme of the Challenge 2026 was dedicated to one of the most pressing dilemmas of our time: "Digital Footprints: Challenges, Risks, and Privacy-by-Design Solutions".

The students of the Department of Computer Science of KNEU, Dmytro Androshchuk, Oleksandr Bilobaba, and Anastasiia Savenok, brilliantly defended their research project entitled "A Ghost in the Network: Who Knows Everything About You? How modern humans lost the right to anonymity, and what to do about it."

The Department of Computer Science and the entire KNEU community express their sincere gratitude to our esteemed partner universities, sponsors, and personally to Professor Markus Helfert for the flawless organization of the competition and the unique opportunity to become part of this international space for intellectual exchange and the presentation of student innovations.