She announced Library of Alexandria The Arab Organization for Research and Education Networks (ASREN) announced the launch of the “Next Generation of Young Innovators” hackathon, with support from the Global Young Academy, as part of the activities of the “e-AGE26” conference hosted by the Library of Alexandria from December 1 to 3, 2026.
The conference is under the slogan “Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Impact.”
Under the slogan “Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Impact: Moving Forward with the Sustainable Development Goals,” the hackathon invites young innovators from all over the Arab region to develop innovative solutions based on artificial intelligence under the umbrella of the Sustainable Development Goals, by focusing on several important themes, including confronting and addressing pressing societal challenges, climate change, health care, education, and smart cities, which contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The hackathon competition will be held in a hybrid manner that combines virtual and in-person stages. It will begin with participants from various countries of the Arab world submitting their applications online, which will consist of an idea proposal and a short introductory video. Then, the first stage of the competition will begin through preliminary qualifiers, which will result in only (10) qualified teams of applicants.
Conference lectures
A virtual lecture will be presented to the ten qualified teams, the topics of which will revolve around guidance and development and how to improve and raise the efficiency of their submitted projects. The second stage of the competition will come through the semi-final qualifiers for the ten teams, resulting in only (3) qualified teams.
The third stage begins with an in-person (interactive) lecture for the three qualified teams at the time of the “e-AGE26” conference at the Library of Alexandria, in which expert guidance will be provided by specialists to point out all the technical gaps in their submitted projects, in addition to training them on presentation and presentation skills, before they advance to the finals for the top three places.
Participation in the hackathon activity has several important advantages, as it provides an opportunity to develop personal and professional skills such as teamwork, communication, working under pressure, guidance and mentoring by academic and professional experts, and also provides an important opportunity to build professional relationships at the level of the Arab region by attending the “e-AGE26” conference. In addition, certificates of participation will be provided to all applicants and prizes allocated to support the development of winning projects, with full coverage of travel and accommodation costs for the finalist teams.
Evaluation criteria used
It is worth noting that the evaluation criteria used in the hackathon for submitted applications will be based on the extent of the idea’s connection to societal challenges and its potential impact, innovation and creativity, and the extent to which the submitted idea can be implemented, in addition to the size of the team’s competence and experience.
The “e-AGE26” hackathon represents a pivotal step towards building a new generation of distinguished researchers and innovators, who not only possess advanced technical skills, but also possess leadership capabilities, collaboration skills, and the ability to create the desired and sustainable impact. This year’s edition witnesses a qualitatively advanced initiative; It goes beyond the boundaries of presentations to move to the horizons of practical innovation, fruitful cooperation, and creating a real and tangible impact, to embody a common vision that aims to enable young researchers to participate, create, and contribute constructively to society by harnessing science and technology.
The conditions and requirements for participating in the competition can be viewed through the following link:
https://www.asren.net/blog/launching-the-e-age26-hackathon
