The first hackathon of the year: Driving solutions through innovation
Kicking off 2025, this hackathon is an exciting opportunity for university students, researchers, and innovators to tackle some of the most pressing sustainability challenges. Participants will have the chance to develop creative solutions that address real-world environmental and infrastructure problems, working alongside industry mentors and experts.
And there’s more—we have a major partner lined up, and we can’t wait to reveal who it is in the coming weeks! Stay tuned for an announcement that will take this event to the next level.
What to expect
This hackathon offers the opportunity to:
Develop innovative solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future.
Leverage data, technology, and engineering to solve real-world challenges. Work alongside industry professionals and mentors to refine your ideas.
Compete for a share of $10,000 in prize money and potential pathways for real-world implementation.
Success stories: Learning from last year’s winners
We caught up with Lincoln from the EcoBuddy team, who took home first prize at last year’s hackathon, which focused on the circular economy.
Q. What was your idea?
A. After careful deliberation and refining, my team proposed 'EcoBuddy'—a fun and interactive app designed for primary school students to improve their sustainable behaviors and practices on a day-to-day basis. Our underlying motivation for this app was the need to consider our future. We found that prioritising our youth long-term was an effective way to create real change.
Q. What did you enjoy most about the hackathon?
A. Finding a creative solution to a real-world problem within the time constraints was both challenging and rewarding. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed working with a diverse set of partners from different backgrounds. Going into the weekend, I had reserved feelings since this was my first hackathon, but those feelings were quickly washed away. My advice to anyone hesitant about participating in an event like this? Jump at the opportunity! It's an experience that you can’t replicate anywhere else. Of course, winning felt pretty good as well.
Q. What impact did the hackathon have on your entrepreneurship journey at UQ?
A. After the hackathon, a whole new avenue of exploration opened up. Whether it was meeting new and interesting people or participating in more incredible experiences, it had a lasting impact. Notably, I was introduced to UQ Ventures, where I applied for and attended the Ventures Singapore Startup AdVenture trip for four weeks in June/July 2024—a trip I will remember for the rest of my life.
Join the challenge and drive impact
This hackathon is more than just a competition—it’s an opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and create solutions that shape the future. As part of a broader effort to support forward-thinking projects, it provides a platform for emerging innovators to experiment, push boundaries, and drive real change. Whether through technology, sustainability, or new problem-solving approaches, this is your chance to make an impact.
And with a game-changing partner soon to be revealed, this is one event you won’t want to miss!