Jahangir Nagar University became the champion in the competition to find solutions to six practical problems of digital Bangladesh formation. International University, Chittagong became the First Runner Up and the second runner-up is the host university American International University Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Digital University and AZ Technology came fourth and fifth in the competition.
Canadian University Vice Chancellor AHM Zahirul Haque handed over the prizes to the winners at the American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) campus in the capital on Monday afternoon.
In the event, the champion team was given Tk. 1 lakh and the first runner-up team was given a cash prize of Tk. 75,000 and a crest.
Tapan Kanti Sarkar, president of CTO Forum Bangladesh, the organizer of the hackathon, said, “There is a lot of demand for skilled young people in the IT industry. Many talented IT graduates are coming out of universities every year, but they do not have the skills required by the industry. Our youth are very talented. They have many innovative ideas. If these ideas of young people can be used properly, I believe, it will be possible to play a big role in solving the challenges of building a smart Bangladesh. This is our effort to take the creativity of youth to the international level in developing sustainable technology for the national interest by bringing out the innovative ideas from the talented youth. Hopefully, this initiative will be useful to some extent in building Digital Bangladesh.”
Canadian University Vice Chancellor AHM Zahirul Haque wished all the best for the contestants who participated in this event.
Pro Vice Chancellor of AIUB Dr. Abdur Rahman said, “This innovation hackathon will play an important role in making the world a digital hub. Their technology-based idea will help Bangladesh move towards development. He expressed hope that this year’s hackathon will be a milestone.”
Professor Dr. Badrul Huda Khan, Joint Secretary of ICT Division Mr. Pranab Saha, convener of the event Professor Dr. Syed Akhtar Hossain, Fair Group CEO Mr. Mostakim Dayang, organized by associate organization BASIS Director Ahmedul Islam Babu and others delivered their speeches on the occasion. The director of science and engineering department of American International University Bangladesh and the chairman of organizing jury and mentor committee Professor Dr. Dwip Nandi and others were also present at the event.
The title sponsor of this year’s Innovation Hackathon 2022 was the Hyundai brand of Fair Technologies. And Bangladesh Hitech Park Authority and Aspire to Innovate (a2i) and Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) were involved in the hackathon.
The competition started with registration on the online platform on August 13 this year, followed by idea round, prototype round, online demonstration and lastly on October 22, the competition ended with live presentation. About 124 ideas were registered in the national level virtual innovation hackathon which started with 11 challenges – ‘World without hunger, good health, quality education, e-commerce, emerging technology, virtual assistance, and online certificate verification’. The hackathon started with 41 ideas selected by the jury board with 50 respected university professors and 20 industry expert board members.