SDG Innovation Hackathon
Qualifying Round
2025
The Qualifying Round of the SDG Innovation Hackathon will be conducted virtually.
Involvement is restricted to secondary school students presently attending grades 9 to 12.
Students are required to assemble teams, with each team comprising 2 to 7 participants.
Teams must complete their projects, which should encompass a summary of the research report and a presentation video, and submit them on time.
Involvement is restricted to secondary school students presently attending grades 9 to 12.
Students are required to assemble teams, with each team comprising 2 to 7 participants.
Teams must complete their projects, which should encompass a summary of the research report and a presentation video, and submit them on time.
Initiate Your Sign-Up
Begin with what excites you and what you excel in!
Step 1. Register as a national/regional organizing committee
If your institution has not yet become a SDG Local Organizing Committee, please complete the Accreditation Form.
Here are the specific steps:
Here are the specific steps:
- Click the link Accreditation Form and fill it out online.
- After submitting the form, the SDG Innovation Hackathon International Organizing Committee will review the application and promptly provide feedback on the results or offer further guidance.
Step 2. Form a team
Students are required to assemble teams, with each team comprising 2 to 7 participants.
Innovative sustainable development flourishes through collaboration across disciplines and sectors within a transparent atmosphere. Before forming a team, it is vital to identify the required roles and construct the team accordingly. A challenge team usually consists of a team leader, key members, and, if desired, a mentor.
Innovative sustainable development flourishes through collaboration across disciplines and sectors within a transparent atmosphere. Before forming a team, it is vital to identify the required roles and construct the team accordingly. A challenge team usually consists of a team leader, key members, and, if desired, a mentor.
- Team Leader: This person serves as the chief, exhibiting robust judgment capabilities, outstanding leadership skills, and a goal-oriented approach aimed at fulfilling the group's aims.
- Key Members: These one to four participants are accountable, aligned with the group's aspirations, and offer diverse expertise in areas such as content creation, IT, visual design, film production, oratory, business evaluation, and additional fields.
- Mentor: This optional position is taken by someone with knowledge or resources in education or project oversight, who acts as a mentor or consultant to assist the group.
Step 3. Select Hack
Each team is allowed to choose 1 Hack from a selection of 6 hacks.
- The SDG Innovation Hackathon encompasses the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations and establishes 6 principal challenge themes (Hacks).
- Students have the autonomy to choose according to their interests and work together in teams to conduct observational discoveries, problem research, or develop creative solutions.
- For information on what each Hack involves and recommendations for projects, please visit the page "Discover the Hacks".
- It’s crucial to keep in mind that each team can only select 1 Hack per year.
Step 4. Select Category
Once a team has chosen a Hack, they can proceed to select a Category.
- The SDG has defined 3 primary categories: Observation and Discovery, Problem Study, and Innovative Solution.
- The complexity and strategic focus of each category differ, and more details can be found in the page"Explore the Categories" .
- Please note that each team is allowed to select only 1 category (choose 1 out of 3) per year.
Step 5. Register Your Team
Once the team is established, the local coordinator can complete the team registration by filling out the online form, selecting the Hack and Category, and providing member details.
The registration form will be sent to the accredited organization.
The registration form will be sent to the accredited organization.
Step 6. Start a Project and Submit Promptly
Teams are required to present their final project results by the designated deadline, following the outline and criteria, which encompass these 2 components:
- Project Report Summary: Detailed answers to the 7 key questions posed by the organizing committee, ensuring the comprehensiveness and depth of the report
- YouTube link for the presentation video
Time Table of SDG Innovation Hackathon
2025
2025
(Registration Deadline is April 30, 2025)
January, 2025
Sign-Ups Begin for Qualifying Round
- Educational entities intending to participate in the program should initially register as a local organizing body, then assemble students into groups, pick a Hack, select a Category, and finalize the team enrollment.
April 30, 2025
Registration Closes
From January ~ May 2025
Preparation
May 20, 2025
Submission Deadline
Teams must deliver their ultimate project outcomes by May 20, 2025, which include these 2 materials:
Teams must deliver their ultimate project outcomes by May 20, 2025, which include these 2 materials:
- Project Report Summary: Detailed answers to the 7 key questions posed by the organizing committee, ensuring the comprehensiveness and depth of the report
- YouTube link for the presentation video
June, 2025
Awards of the Qualifying Round Announcement
- The top-performing teams will be selected to participate in the China Finals, scheduled for Beijing in August 2025, and will also receive financial assistance from the International Organizing Committee to facilitate their participation.
- Furthermore, they will have the opportunity to obtain an invitation to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum in April 2026.
August, 2025
SDG Innovation Hackathon China Finals (Optional)
Beijng, China
Beijng, China
April, 2026
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum
New York, USA
New York, USA
Benefits for Participation
- Through studying the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), students can acquire a hands-on, issue-focused educational experience while engaging with other creative individuals.
- Create groundbreaking solutions that address community needs, thus enhancing the connection between innovative insights and the social context while expanding your perspectives
- During the in-person Hackathon competition (e.g. China Finals), engage with specialists from different fields and esteemed academics, drawing motivation for inventive ideas from the wide-ranging professional experiences of advisors, overcoming mental barriers;
- Exceptional solutions will be chosen for presentation and evaluation at the United Nations and other renowned international venues.
