Introduction

First you fill in the application form and join our discord.
https://forms.gle/CJf9QbWTvvKbvKSy7
https://discord.gg/wpEU3fF22x
When you are notified as one of the 100 shortlisted teams, then you apply here on Devpost.

Primary instrument:

• 🧠 Cortex Premium — your main research system. Every participant gets full access for the entire innovation period along with a CORTEX GUIDE PDF that explains its features in depth and how participants can use them. Use it to analyze literature, run computational simulations, scrape live sources, parse datasets, generate visualizations, verify claims, and build your project.

What Cortex gives you:

• Live web search with cited sources
• Document parsing — PDFs, research papers, datasets
• Computational simulations — real executed models, not theoretical hand-waving
• Image understanding and generation
• Persistent memory across sessions — your research context compounds
• Integrations — Google Workspace, GitHub, Notion, Slack, and more
• Neurosymbolic verification — claims checked against hard logic and grounded knowledge

Bring your own:

• Programming languages — Python, R, Julia, whatever you build in
• ML frameworks — PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX, scikit-learn
• Bioinformatics tools — BioPython, SAMtools, PLINK, Nextflow
• BCI toolkits — MNE-Python, OpenBCI, BrainFlow
• Genomics pipelines — GATK, BWA, STAR
• Version control — Git & GitHub (required for submission)
• Anything else you need to make your prototype run

Cortex is the instrument. The rest is your call.

Inspiration

Not sure where to start? Good. That's the point.

Some directions to pull from — not requirements, just fuel:

• Neuroscience — Neural decoding, brain state classification, neurodegenerative disease modeling, connectomics, EEG signal analysis, consciousness research
• Brain-Computer Interfaces — Motor imagery classification, P300 spellers, real-time neural decoding, assistive BCI for paralysis patients, neural feedback systems
• Genomics — Variant pathogenicity prediction, polygenic risk scoring, gene expression analysis, CRISPR off-target prediction, population genetics, rare disease genomics
• Bioinformatics — Protein structure prediction, sequence alignment optimization, drug-target interaction, microbiome analysis, single-cell RNA sequencing, phylogenetics

Or ignore all of these and find your own problem. The best work usually starts with a question no one thought to ask.

Ask yourself:

• What's a problem that's been stuck for decades because no one had the right tool?
• What would a researcher with unlimited time and Cortex actually attempt?
• What's the 2am problem — the one that keeps someone awake because it matters?

The 2am problems. The real answers.

Contact Us & Support Channels

Official channels:

• 💬 Discord  — primary hub for all communication, team-building, Cortex support, and announcements

What Discord is for:

• #announcements — official updates, deadlines, and critical information
• #queries — questions about the hackathon, rules, timeline, eligibility
• #cortex-support — help with Cortex Premium access, features, and usage
• #team-building — find teammates, form squads, build alliances

Don't wait until the last day to ask for help. The clock won't pause.

Additional Resource Links

• 📄 Participant Guide — Sent on Discord Announcements Channel— full rules, timeline, submission specs, and everything you need to know
• 🧠 Cortex Guide — Sent on Discord Announcements Channel — complete walkthrough of every Cortex capability, written so a beginner can produce research-grade work
• 📋 Application Form — https://forms.gle/CJf9QbWTvvKbvKSy7 — the only way in. ONLY Shortlisted candidates apply on Devpost and get Cortex Premium access.
• 🎨 Official Poster — Axonic – Don't Use AI. Employ It. — You need to click on “Emplore the mission”. share it, spread it, find your team

Read the Participant Guide and the Cortex Guide before you start.