The FinTech and Blockchain Research Group at KTH Royal Institute of Technology has joined FirstBlock-athon as an ecosystem partner.

The group connects students, researchers, entrepreneurs and industry, and that is what it brings to the event: a route between academic work and people building things over four days in September.

Research alongside builders

KTH is one of Europe's leading technical universities, with an environment where education, research, entrepreneurship and industry work on real-world problems together.

For a hackathon, the relevance is direct. Several of the eight areas participants can work in — trust and identity, AI applications, emerging technologies — sit close to active research rather than settled practice. Having researchers in the room changes what a team can attempt in 48 hours.

Bertram Steininger and Nazanin Mottaghi are named by the organisers as the people behind the partnership.

Seven partners so far

KTH is the seventh partner announced, joining Sullis, Neuro, BloXcel, AI Institutet, HyperMind Network and Blockchain Sweden. Announcements continue ahead of the event, which runs 7–11 September in Stockholm as part of Nordic Tech Week 2026.

Applications are open.

More on what's built on the blockchain beyond finance in Onchain Build.