Sharjah tech park hosts 48-hr virtual hackathon

SHARJAH: Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) is hosting a 48-hour virtual hackathon towards more sustainable energy on the third week of June and university students and professors from around the world are encouraged to enlist.

A free trade zone and part of the American University of Sharjah within the University City in Sharjah, SRTIP was established in 2016 through a Royal Decree of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of UAE and Ruler of Sharjah. It promotes continuous research and development and supports start-ups related to water technology, renewable energy, environmental technology, digitalisation, industrial and architectural design, mobility and smart cities by way of collaboration among the government, industry players and the educational sector.

The global virtual competition with a total prize of $10,000 (Dhs36,730.20) split into $5,000 (Dhs18,365.10), first place; $3,000 (Dhs11,019.06), second place; and $2,000 (Dhs7,346.04), third place is in line with the SRTIP “MEA Energy Innovation Hub” that concentrates on initiatives or projects concerning energy, low carbon, and oil and gas. The new hub, supported by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, was inaugurated in March 1, 2021.

Interested university students and professors may join individually or as a team of up to four members through htps://energyhubmea.com/ hackathon/ until before midnight (UAE time) of May 27 (Thursday). They have to come up with novel concepts on six categories. Among them are Decarbonisation (capture and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions; more efficient biogas, biofuels, e-fuels, green hydrogen, and carbon dioxide storage, among others), Renewable Energy (for solar, wind, hydro, wave, geothermal and biomass fuels), Energy Efficiency (cutingedge technologies such as the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Big Data leading to maximum energy use, zero or minimum carbon footprint, and low cost), and Energy Storage.