Introduction

Origin Research and Innovations Labs (Origin) is dedicated to rapidly transforming Africa by cultivating original and indigenous solutions. We aim to tap into the abundant human resources across Africa and the diaspora to address the continent’s complex challenges through collaborative innovation. A cardinal aspect of realizing this objective is drawing innovators to a problem-solving ecosystem like the OriginFest Hackathon, dubbed the Origin Fest 2024: Season I, with a special focus on AI.

OriginFest is a dynamic co-innovation hackathon hosted by Origin Research and Innovation Labs. It unites bright innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers to collaborate on sponsored challenges. OriginFest supports the agenda of the Origin Research and Innovation Lab initiative and the Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa.

OriginFest capitalizes on the success of existing innovation events in the East African region, aiming to bridge the gap between challenges and practical solutions aligned with AI and other Technologies. By aligning with the prevailing innovation landscape and forming partnerships with global technology companies, universities, and entrepreneurship programs, OriginFest seeks to amplify its impact and drive sustainable solutions for Africa’s pressing problems.

The four most impactful and innovative solutions based on the judges will be awarded and given a chance to pitch during the third forum for the Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa, with the possibility of further guidance to co-develop the solution with the challenge owners and Origin.

Objectives

The primary goal of the Hackathon is to:

• Harness the innovative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and frontier technologies focused on AI to address and solve pressing societal challenges.
• Facilitate collaborative problem-solving among Origin’s solvers.
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and expert guidance on innovation, entrepreneurship, and frontier technologies.
• Introduce participants to Origin Research and Innovation Labs’ work areas and networks
• Create opportunities for emerging innovators to connect with experienced mentors and industry leaders

Hackathon Themes

• Health: Developing tools for public health improvement, disease prediction, telemedicine, and personalized treatment plans.
• Agriculture: Creating smart solutions for crop monitoring, predictive analysis of weather patterns, post-harvest systems, and sustainable farming practices.
• Climate Change: Building systems/tools for mitigating climate change risks, reducing carbon footprint, managing waste and for better water resources management and conservation.
• Community development and governance: Developing tools for receiving feedback and identifying challenges in serving communities; automating administrative tools and access to information on services.

Participants of Hackathon

Participants will include Researchers, Engineering designers, Innovators, Software developers, data scientists, AI enthusiasts, and students from various disciplines. The participants should be in teams of four to five members. The organizers will assign the participants registered without a team to a team. Teams will be formed to work on the challenges. The teams will be encouraged to include members with diverse backgrounds to foster inclusive solutions.

Format:

The Hackathon will be a 48-hour marathon during which teams will ideate, conceptualize, design, and prototype their solutions/applications. Mentors and Coaches from various industry sectors will provide guidance and support throughout the event.

Outcomes

The expected outcomes include the following:

–        Practical solutions that challenge owners can be implemented with the solvers.

–        Practical AI and other technological applications that can be further developed and deployed to benefit society.

–        Networking opportunities with professionals and peers in AI and frontier technologies.

–        Awards for the most innovative and impactful solutions.

Supporting Partners

The Hackathon invites collaborations with technology companies, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations specializing in innovation and social good.

Date and Venue

The Hackathon will be held from 18th  to 20th October 2024 as a precursor event to the 3rd forum of the Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa at the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology. It will be conducted in a hybrid format, with the first day being hybrid (Physical and virtual) and the second and third days being physical.

Event Schedule

Below is the provisional order of events for the Hackathon

Conclusion

OriginFest acts as a catalyst for co-innovation, knowledge exchange, and the development of a vibrant entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. The festival aims to advance Indigenous solutions that will impact Africa’s development by assembling diverse talents and providing a platform for collaborative problem-solving.

Registration

To register, click on this link: https://bit.ly/ORIGINFEST-Hacathon