Three Saudi innovative teams win first place in the “Oxagon” Hackathon
Three Saudi teams topped the list of the first winning places in the first hackathon organized by the “Oxagon” industrial city in NEOM.
The hackathon was established in cooperation with the Ministry of Education to support Saudi innovators from university students, start-up companies, and pioneering ideas.
The teams competed to present several innovative projects that enabled them to win first place.
The Blindline team from Prince Muhammad Bin Fahd University presented a project that enables the blind to learn Braille using artificial intelligence.
The 3D & IoT Integrated Construction System team from Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University presented a project to use drones to monitor all construction stages.
The Savetro team from King Abdulaziz University presented a project idea to convert gasoline-powered cars into electric cars.
The three winning teams in the Hackathon will have the opportunity to participate in the Oxagon Accelerator, which will start at the end of this year.
Winners will be able to communicate with global experts and specialists, enhance their opportunities to enter the markets and transform their ideas into companies ready for investment.
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Over three days, from October 6-8, 61 teams competed with the support of the accelerator Blossom, to present ideas and innovations in different tracks.
These tracks are Technology at the service of people, innovation to meet the challenges of water scarcity, and renewable energy solutions including green hydrogen, and electric fuels.
The jury also included five arbitrators, specialists, and officials from the Ministry of Education, “Oxagon”, and the “Blossom” accelerator.
Oxagon’s Director of Innovation, Lisa Norkus, explained that a group of local innovations was submitted through more than 600 applications.
She indicated that identifying the most distinguished teams was not an easy matter at all, and the three winning teams were chosen after achieving the best results based on the criteria adopted for the “hackathon”.
Industries development
It is noteworthy that “Oxagon”, which is the city of advanced and clean industries in NEOM, has launched the “Hackathon” as part of its set of initiatives dedicated to supporting the capabilities of local talent.
Through these initiatives, Oxagon aspires to support NEOM’s ambitions to contribute to addressing the most pressing challenges facing humanity, by working to develop clean industries.
