The FINISH Mondial SanTech Hackathon 2024 is calling all innovators

The FINISH Mondial Fourth Annual Hackathon, known as the San Tech Hackathon, provides a platform for participants worldwide to showcase their skills in advancing technologies that contribute to a sustainable future. The 2024 edition specifically targets the challenges of greywater recycling, emphasizing its application in sustainable agriculture and kitchen gardening.

This annual event attracts bright minds, creative thinkers, and solution-oriented individuals from diverse backgrounds to collectively address critical issues within the sanitation sector. The FINISH Mondial SanTech Hackathon exemplifies the intersection of innovation, technology, and sanitation.

The primary focus of the "Greywater Recycling for Sustainable Agriculture and Kitchen Gardening" Hackathon is to inspire technological innovation and devise solutions for treating and recycling greywater from households. The ultimate goal is to promote sustainable practices in agriculture and kitchen gardening. The 2024 edition of the FINISH Mondial Annual SanTech Hackathon will center around four key areas: Grey Water Treatment Technologies, Smart Irrigation Systems, Sensor and Monitoring Solutions, and Community Engagement and Education.

Aligned with the mission of FINISH Mondial, which seeks to improve access to sustainable sanitation and hygiene, this international event serves as a dynamic platform for envisioning and developing transformative solutions. Participants, ranging from engineers and developers to sanitation experts, converge to explore fresh ideas, create prototypes, and contribute to the ongoing global efforts to enhance sanitation infrastructure.

The San Tech Hackathon 4 is supported by key partners such as FINISH Mondial, SATO (part of Lixil), and Toilet Board Coalition. It encourages participants to devise inventive solutions addressing water scarcity, sustainable agriculture, and environmental conservation. The hackathon facilitates collaboration among a diverse range of experts, fostering a holistic approach to problem-solving, from engineers to community engagement specialists.

Emphasizing inclusivity, the FINISH Mondial SanTech Hackathon focuses on developing open-source technologies accessible to various communities. Furthermore, the Annual San Tech Hackathon 2023-24 offers participants the opportunity to compete for a substantial prize, with the winner standing a chance to secure up to €5,000. This not only adds an element of competition but also incentivizes the development of impactful and scalable solutions.

Areas of Focus for SanTech Hackathon 2024:

• Smart Irrigation Systems: Develop advanced irrigation systems optimized for distributing treated greywater, including automation and user-friendly controls.
• Greywater Treatment Technologies: Innovate cost-effective and efficient greywater treatment systems, considering sustainability and ease of maintenance.
• Sensor and Monitoring Solutions: Design tools for real-time monitoring of treated greywater quality, ensuring it meets safety standards for agricultural use.
• Community Engagement and Education: Create outreach programs and educational campaigns to promote greywater recycling, emphasizing the benefits of sustainability and community involvement.

Eligibility Criteria for FINISH Mondial SanTech Hackathon:

• The San Tech Hackathon by FINISH Mondial is open to participants from all around the world.
• Individuals with diverse expertise, including but not limited to engineers, innovators, environmentalists, data scientists, and community engagement specialists, are encouraged to participate.
• Individuals with a passion for innovation toward greywater recycling and a desire to contribute to the development of open-source technologies for sanitation solutions are eligible.
• The hackathon emphasizes collaboration. Hence, welcoming participants who are eager to work together to address challenges in water scarcity, sustainable agriculture, and environmental conservation.

Judging Criteria:

• Impact: The potential impact of the proposed solutions on the targeted issues will be a crucial factor in the evaluation process.
• Innovation: Assessment will include the level of originality and creativity demonstrated in the submissions.
• Feasibility: Submissions will be evaluated for their practicality and feasibility in real-world applications.
• Sustainability: The long-term sustainability of the proposed solutions, particularly in terms of environmental impact and resource efficiency, will therefore, be examined.
• Scalability: The ability of the solutions to scale and adapt to different contexts or regions will be considered.
• Community Engagement: The extent to which the submissions involve and benefit the community will be a key criterion in the evaluation process.

Benefits of the FINISH Mondial Sanitation Technology Hackathon 2024:

• Participants can win prizes and gain recognition for their impactful contributions to water conservation, water treatment, and sustainable agriculture.
• Similarly, the overall winner of the FINISH Hackathon will receive a prestigious award of €5,000, along with the opportunity to see their solution implemented in one of the FINISH Mondial countries (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Tanzania, or Uganda).
• The first runners-up will receive €3,000, while the second will receive €1,000.
• Moreover, during the announcement of the winners, there will be a popular vote award of €1,000.
• In addition, engaging in the FINISH Mondial SanTech Hackathon offers participants valuable networking opportunities, thus allowing them to connect with experts in the field.
• The Sanitation Technology Hackathon 4 is a great opportunity that brings together innovators, engineers, and problem-solvers to collaborate on technological solutions for sanitation challenges.

Application Deadline: The deadline to apply for the FINISH Mondial SanTech Hackathon is 28 February 2024.

Application link: https://tinyurl.com/2wdrp4xu

Official website: https://tinyurl.com/3f9k24ur