APRU Tech Policy Hackathon 2025

Digital transformation presents an unprecedented opportunity to solve complex social issues. However, gaps remain in ensuring that solutions are sustainable, scalable, and aligned with policy objectives.

The APRU Tech Policy Hackathon 2025 will empower students to design technology-driven process improvements and regulatory innovations leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. These solutions aim to bridge existing gaps in underserved communities across Southeast Asian (SEA) countries. The focus will be on initiatives that are self-sustaining, deliver a good return on investment (ROI), and are ready for implementation.

Objectives

Guided by mentors from the academia, tech industry, public agencies, non-profit organizations and other stakeholders, participants will develop actionable solutions to one of the following policy challenges:

1. Pathways for Supporting Financial Inclusion in the Digital Economy – Exploring scalable business models, fintech innovations, and regulatory mechanisms that enhance financial access for underbanked communities.
2. Ensuring Interoperability, Access, and Digital Trust – Developing business processes, governance models, and policy-aligned solutions that enable seamless integration across digital platforms, strengthen security, and build trust in digital transactions.
3. Adapting to AI-Driven Economies – Designing market-based and regulatory solutions that help underserved communities navigate the transition to an AI-driven economy, focusing on workforce adaptation, AI-and data driven economic integration, governance and safety, upskilling, accessibility, and localization.
4. Developing Digital Trust as a Pathway to Solve the Digital Equity Gap – Establishing policies and technological frameworks that build trust in digital financial systems and services, promoting broader digital equity.

Teams will produce a policy brief and develop a working prototype. Judging criteria will emphasize real-world feasibility, innovation quality, policy relevance, and the potential for high-impact scalability.

Timeline

May 15-Jun 20, 2025

Open call for application.

Jun 27, 2025

Announcement of the initial shortlist of teams for the hackathon.

Jul 21, 2025

Deadline for submission of an in-depth policy brief (1200 words) on one of the policy challenges outlined in the Objectives above.

Aug 1, 2025

Announcement of the final list of selected teams for the Tech Policy Hackathon in Bangkok.

Aug-Sep, 2025

The selected teams have two training sessions provided by speakers and mentors.

Sep 30-Oct 2, 2025

Tech Policy Hackathon in Bangkok, Thailand

Awards

● A prize of US$1,000 will be awarded to the winning team.

● US$500 will be awarded to the first and second runners-up teams respectively.

Requirements

● Participants should be organized by teams, with each consisting of 3 - 5 postgraduate and/or undergraduate students. 

● Teams are highly encouraged to be composed of members of diverse disciplines and gender backgrounds.

● Preferred disciplines: AI/Impact Data Science, Law, Business Administration, Political Science, and Humanities.

● Each team should be endorsed by a faculty member from their university.

● Each member of the applying teams should have the availability to join the online training sessions and in-person hackathon in Bangkok.

*HKUST is one of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) member universities. For more details, please visit APRU Tech Policy Hackathon 2025. 

To register: Here

Remarks: This is a HMAW1905-recognized event in the "Personal Enrichment & Community Service" category under the "Self-directed Experience" of HMAW 1905: Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets and Wellness. To receive 24 hours, you must attend the event in full and miss no more than 10 mins.

Enquiry email: global@ust.hk