Participation is open to Rockwell Automation customers and PartnerNetwork™ member companies. Student teams will be considered if skills requirements can be met. Employees of Rockwell Automation or Rockwell Authorized Distributors are not eligible.

Can I apply if I don’t have a team?

No. Applications are for full teams of 3-4 people only. We are unable to match individuals with existing teams for the ROKathon.

How are teams selected?

Teams are selected on a first-come, first-served basis for qualifying entries. Entries must meet all qualification criteria to be considered, regardless of when they are received.

What technology/products will I work with?

Rockwell Automation product scope is subject to change but may include: FactoryTalk® Optix™, Atlas™ AI, FactoryTalk® Design Studio™ Copilot, LogixAI®, SecureOT™ Platform.

How and by whom are the solutions evaluated?

A team of Rockwell Automation portfolio engineering and solution consultants will judge the solutions and select a winning team. Full judging criteria will be shared with selected participants leading up to the event.

Recognition as a technology wizard and innovation leader in the industry Bragging rights for you and your company on your website, LinkedIn profile and beyond The opportunity to showcase your winning solution on the Expo floor Congratulatory social posts tagging you and your company on Rockwell’s social channels, reaching our more than 1 million followers Special guests at the ATOM Lunch – Advanced Training Opportunity to Mingle Networking Lunch, on Wednesday of the show week, talking about your experience and meeting others who share your passion

What about Intellectual Property considerations?

Teams retain ownership of the intellectual property they create during the event By participating, teams grant organizers the right to promote, showcase, and reference submitted projects for event marketing and reporting purposes Participants must have the legal right to use any code, content, data, models, or assets included in their submissions Any third-party content must comply with applicable licensing terms

Automation Fair

Nov 16-19, 2026

ROKathon

A group of people huddle around a computer

Tomorrow's solutions start with today’s problem solvers

Back by popular demand, join us for the 2nd annual Automation Fair hackathon event. Teams will go on a journey to transform real-world industrial challenges into practical solutions through hands-on collaboration, expert guidance and emerging technology using Rockwell Automation’s Integrated Architecture.

Step out of your daily routine and immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind Automation Fair® event hackathon experience bringing together innovators, problem-solvers and technology enthusiasts. Up to 15 selected teams of three to four people will receive exclusive training and guidance as they put their problem-solving skills to the test, make new connections and have fun.

Over several days, teams tackle real-world problems relating to OT/IT/ET convergence, optimization, networking and cybersecurity. After presenting their solutions for judging, the winner will be announced live in the Expo and share the thinking, teamwork and technology behind their winning approach.

Four men pose on stage at the Automation Fair Discovery Theater

2025 ROKathon Winner: Interstates

ROKathon Event Schedule

Saturday, November 14: Orientation and networking kick off
Sunday-Monday, November 15-16: Working time with access to Rockwell Automation technology and subject matter experts
Tuesday, November 17: Team presentations and judging
Wednesday, November 18: Winner announced live on Discovery Theater stage in the Expo

Think your team has what it takes?

Submit your team application by August 28, 2026 for your chance to compete.

Apply Today

What we're looking for

Individuals responsible for project delivery that also possess:

A passion for low level software development
Strong communication, collaboration and learning skills
Analytical thinking and problem-solving ability to approach real-world industrial problems
Preferred knowledge of coding (PLC logic, Python, C#)
Basic understanding of visualization and reporting
Basic understanding of industrial data flows (OT to IT)
Conceptual understanding of ML and AI
Competition and all training conducted in English

How it works

Submit your application by August 28, 2026. To ensure a smooth process, review what we're looking for and FAQs. Have the names, titles and email addresses for all proposed team members ready.

Teams consist of three to four people. One person will be designated as team lead.
Selected teams will be notified in mid-September and team members will receive complimentary General Access pass to Automation Fair.
Selected teams will be presented with a problem statement and resources to use in devising a solution.
Prior to the event, they’ll receive training and access to Rockwell Automation experts to prepare.

ROKathon FAQs

Recognition as a technology wizard and innovation leader in the industry
Bragging rights for you and your company on your website, LinkedIn profile and beyond
The opportunity to showcase your winning solution on the Expo floor
Congratulatory social posts tagging you and your company on Rockwell’s social channels, reaching our more than 1 million followers
Special guests at the ATOM Lunch – Advanced Training Opportunity to Mingle Networking Lunch, on Wednesday of the show week, talking about your experience and meeting others who share your passion

Teams retain ownership of the intellectual property they create during the event
By participating, teams grant organizers the right to promote, showcase, and reference submitted projects for event marketing and reporting purposes
Participants must have the legal right to use any code, content, data, models, or assets included in their submissions
Any third-party content must comply with applicable licensing terms

Automation Fair is a registered trademark of Rockwell Automation.