Ad HOC 2026
Introduction
Welcome to ADHOC 2026, the Algorithm Engineering Contest presented by CPPS Honors Academy and GEWIS. The contest takes place on May 23, 2026.
No exact solutions. No easy wins. Just smart heuristics.
Ready to outsmart the problem?
Sign up before May 20 to join the optimization challenge.
About the challenge
ADHOC 2026 is built around a real-world optimization problem.
It is computationally intractable, so exact solutions do not exist. Your goal is to design intelligent heuristics that push your solution as close to the optimum as possible.
Competition format
There will be one open-ended problem with multiple instances and one leaderboard. You will have 4 hours to optimize.
Better solutions receive lower scores, all teams start at infinity, and the team with the lowest total score wins.
Java, Python, and C++ are highlighted for the contest. Open-source tools, libraries, and frameworks are allowed. Paid services, cloud platforms, and external compute power are not allowed.
Prizes and rewards
Thanks to ASML's sponsorship, there is a €300 prize for the winning team, along with gold medals, bragging rights, and eternal glory.
Why join ADHOC?
- Tackle real-world problems.
- Sharpen your algorithmic mind.
- Work with great people.
- Boost your resume.
- Learn, share, and get inspired.
- Have fun and celebrate.
Event schedule
The contest takes place on May 23, 2026. The detailed schedule is available on the Schedule page.
How to participate
Teams can consist of 2 to 4 people, and full teams get priority if needed. The contest is open to everyone, and all students are welcome.
For any questions, contact us at: adhoc.eindhoven@gmail.com
Sign up before May 20. If your team has allergies, let the organizers know when registering.
Partners and Sponsors
