Turn ideas into reality!
Build generative AI-powered apps! Join us for a special AI hackathon at Unitec.
October 9 – 11, 2024 | Unitec, Auckland
You can apply as a team (3-5 people) or as an individual and we’ll help you form a team.
Registration will be closed on 22nd September.
Imagine unleashing the combined power of AWS Generative AI technologies and your own ingenuity!
Unitec and Promptech are proud to organize the GenAI Hackathon: Sustainable Impact, a groundbreaking event sponsored by AWS, focused on harnessing the power of Generative AI technologies to create innovative solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This dynamic hackathon invites participant teams to collaborate with industry experts and professionals, utilizing cutting-edge AWS Generative AI tools like Amazon Bedrock and Q to develop innovative sustainable impact to the New Zealand industries.
The event will culminate in a panel review, where industry leaders will evaluate the projects based on creativity, feasibility, and impact. The most outstanding teams will be honored with awards, celebrating their exceptional contributions and inspiring others to explore new frontiers of innovation.
Tackling Global Challenges with GenAI
Empowering Innovation for Sustainable Solutions
Driving Innovation with Purpose
The GenAI Hackathon: Sustainable Impact is dedicated to creating innovative solutions that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Impactful Solutions Across Sectors
SDGs recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests..
Empowering AI for Global Good
Participants will work on use cases designed to make a meaningful impact across various sectors. Projects will contribute to one or more of the 17 SDG pillars
Use Cases Aligned with the 17 UN SDGs:
- No Poverty: AI-driven solutions to alleviate poverty through better resource allocation and access to services.
- Zero Hunger: Innovations in food security and sustainable agriculture using AI for predictive modeling and optimization.
- Good Health and Well-being: AI applications in healthcare to improve patient outcomes and access to medical services.
- Quality Education: Enhancing educational accessibility and quality through personalized learning platforms powered by AI.
- Gender Equality: Promoting gender equality and empowerment using AI tools to identify and address disparities.
- Clean Water and Sanitation: AI solutions for improving water management, purification, and distribution.
- Affordable and Clean Energy: Leveraging AI to optimize renewable energy sources and reduce carbon footprints.
- Decent Work and Economic Growth: AI-driven initiatives to create jobs and promote sustainable economic growth.
- Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Developing AI technologies that support resilient infrastructure and industrial innovation.
- Reduced Inequalities: Using AI to bridge the gap in social and economic inequalities.
- Sustainable Cities and Communities: AI solutions for urban planning, waste management, and smart city initiatives.
- Responsible Consumption and Production: Promoting sustainable consumption patterns through AI-based efficiency models.
- Climate Action: AI applications focused on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and environmental protection.
- Life Below Water: Protecting marine life with AI tools for monitoring and reducing pollution.
- Life on Land: AI technologies for conservation, reforestation, and biodiversity protection.
- Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Strengthening institutions and promoting justice through AI-powered transparency and accountability.
- Partnerships for the Goals: Fostering collaboration across sectors with AI to achieve the SDGs effectively.
Enabling Workshops
Text Generation
You will learn how to generate text using LLMs on Amazon Bedrock.
Knowledge Bases and RAG
Build a knowledge base and using Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to extract information.
Model Customization
Customize Amazon Bedrock foundation models in order to improve their performance.
Image and MultiModal applications
Build multimodal image indexing, searching and recommendation applications quickly.
Agents
Harness the Foundation Model's (FM's) reasoning skills to execute multi-steps business tasks using natural language.
Prompt Engineering
By using various prompt engineering techniques, you can get better answers from the foundation models.
Agenda
- Day 1: 9 October 2024
- 7:30-8:00 Registration
- 8:00-8:15 Opening ceremony
- 8:15-9:00 Keynotes
- 9:00-10:30 Breakout 1: AWS enabling workshop
- 10:30-11:00 Morning break
- 11:00-13:00 Breakout 2: AWS enabling workshop
- 13:00-13:30 Lunch break
- 13:30-19:00 Start working on projects
- Day 2: 10 October 2024
- 7:00-9:30 Working on projects
- 9:30-10:00 Morning break
- 10:00-11:00 Breakout 3: Q&A with Mentors
- 11:00-13:00 Working on projects
- 13:00-13:30 Lunch break
- 14:00-15:00 Breakout 4: Presentation practice with mentors
- 15:00-19:00 Working on projects
- Day 3: 11 October 2024
- 7:00-9:30 Working on projects
- 9:30-10:00 Morning break
- 11:00 Final submission
- 12:00-12:30 Lunch break
- 13:00-17:00 Presentations
- 17:00-17:30 Break
- 17:30-18:30 Keynotes + Awards
- 18:30-19:30 Networking
Judges and Panel
Judging Criteria
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Innovation and Creativity (20%)
Originality of the idea
Creative approach to solving the problem
-
Solution Adoption Simplicity (20%)
Difficulty of the technical implementation
Use of advanced technologies and methodologies
-
Impact and Usefulness (25%)
Practicality and real-world application of the solution
Potential impact on the targeted industry or community
-
Team Collaboration and Diversity (15%)
Teamwork and collaboration during the hackathon
Inclusive team, mix of students, professionals, ethnicities, genders, etc.
-
Presentation and Demo (20%)
Clarity and effectiveness of the presentation
Demonstration of a working demo
Ability to answer questions and engage the audience
Meet The Mentors
Prizes
More Prizes TBC
Second Team
$1500
First Team
$2500
Third Team
$750
Vxceed Internship
Best Student Award
Invitation to Interview
Requirements
- Eligibility: The GenAI Hackathon is open to everyone—students, developers, researchers, and business decision-makers alike.
- Citizenship: Participants from any country are welcome. However, please note that visa support letters are not provided to Hackathon Pass Holders.
- Email Address: You will need to provide an academic or business email address. If you are not affiliated with tertiary institutions or industries in New Zealand, you may be placed on a waiting list.
- Team Size: Teams should consist of 3-4 members.
- Registration: All participants must register through the application form.
You can apply as a team (3-5 people) or as an individual and we’ll help you form a team.
Registration will be closed on 22nd September.
Answers to frequently asked questions
- Wheelchair accessibility
- Accessible parking
- All-gender restrooms
- Prayer Centre/ Halal meals
- Cafes
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