Singapore-India Hackathon to return after three years with big G20 finale planned

Singapore’ prestigious Nanyang Technology University has played an integral part in reviving the Singapore-India Hackathon, following a three-year lay off.

The re-launched event is a joint initiative between the University and the Indian Ministry of Education’s All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

The first Singapore-India Hackathon took place in 2018 after being initiated by Indian PM, Shri Narendra Modi. A total of 120 students participated.

A second successful hackathon was held in 2019, before COVID-19 restrictions prevented the event from taking place in the ensuing three years.

The return of the highly-anticipated event will see the finals of the competition take place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting from 3-4 August 2023.

“Education is one of the priority areas of the G20. Initiatives like the SI Hackathon would bring out the innovation and entrepreneurship of our students in front of the world,” said India’s Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.

“India and Singapore working together further will create unprecedented opportunities for our students, enhance employability and help create next-gen entrepreneurs. AICTE and Nanyang Technology University Singapore will handhold the substantive outcomes of SI Hackathon 2023 and help in monetising out-of-the-box innovations converting them into start-ups creating value and jobs for society.”

Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Gan Kim Yong said he is especially glad that each group in the Singapore-India Hackathon will be formed from three students from India and three from Singapore.

“Do seize this opportunity to learn from one another new ways of seeing and doing that stem from our diverse cultures, traditions and social experiences,” he told students at the event’s launch at The Imperial hotel in New Delhi.

NTU Vice President (Industry) and Co-Chair for SI Hackathon 2023, Professor Lam Khin Yong said the event will “enable students and start-ups to develop cross-country bonds, learn from each other’s strengths, and develop more innovative solutions for global challenges collectively.”

“This prestigious and exciting event offers a unique opportunity for both nations to further deepen their strong bilateral partnership in education, innovation, entrepreneurship, science & technology.”

Fostering collaboration in fintech, sustainability and governance

The Singapore-India Hackathon 2023 aims to foster collaboration between students and start-ups from both countries in the areas of fintech, sustainability and ESG. More than 200 participants from both nations will collaborate and work together in teams to develop impactful solutions for addressing climate change, financial connectivity and inclusion.

Twenty-four start-ups and 12 student teams from both countries – comprising university and college students and selected through a rigorous screening process – will compete in the final event where prizes will be awarded to the top four winners in each category.

The winning teams will demonstrate their solutions to select global dignitaries in the grand finale of the hackathon in Gandhinagar. The winner of the start-up category will also gain an automatic entry into the Singapore Fintech Festival, one of the largest of its kind in the world with awards totalling S$1.5 million.

“The SI Hackathon 2023 will deploy the Nanyang Technology University Singapore triple helix model of bringing together universities, public agencies and industry partners for mentoring students and start-ups to ensure their success,” said Prof Lam.

“As one of the world’s top 20 global universities, Nanyang Technology University has a long tradition of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. We are proud to support this hackathon as it aligns with our mission to create global solutions through cutting-edge research and education.”

“I believe that the SI Hackathon 2023 will be an excellent opportunity for our students and start- ups to learn from each other and test how ideas are scaled up to have a wider impact and be adapted to different contexts and cultures to solve global challenges,” added Nanyang Technology University Vice President (Innovation & Entrepreneurship) and Dean, College of Engineering, and Co-Chair for SI Hackathon 2023, Professor Louis Phee.

How to register for the Singapore-India Hackathon 2023

Registration for SI Hackathon 2023 is now open and interested individuals and teams can sign at https://singaporeindiahackathon.com/.

The hackathon is open to university students and students from all backgrounds in India and Singapore. No prior coding experience is required.