Ericsson is challenging young people in the Middle East to use technologies such as AI, IoT and connectivity to support sustainable digital transformation and climate action.

Working with the Hack for Earth Foundation, Ericsson has launched the Ericsson Sustainability Challenge hackathon to empower youth across the Gulf region, bringing together start-ups, university students, innovators and ecosystem partners to co-create ways to support sustainable digital transformation and climate action.

The hackathon is open to participants from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Through collaboration and innovation, participants will explore how connectivity and digitalisation can accelerate climate action and enable a more sustainable future. The hackathon is built on Hack for Earth’s proven dream-hack-build methodology, guiding participants from identifying sustainability challenges to co-creating services and accelerating them towards implementation and real-world deployment.

The objective of the challenge is to identify impactful and scalable sustainability options leveraging technologies such as AI, IoT and connectivity in support of sustainability ambitions and national visions across the region, including the UAE Vision 2031 and Green Agenda. Participants should use creativity, technology and innovation to show how digitalisation and connectivity can help address today’s sustainability challenges while creating smarter and more resilient societies.

“For decades, Ericsson has been a trusted partner in the Gulf’s digital transformation, helping build the connectivity that powers economies, industries and communities across the region,” said Petra Schirren, president of Ericsson in the Gulf region. “Through the Ericsson Sustainability Challenge, we are bringing together young innovators, universities, ecosystem partners, and our experts to co-create solutions powered by 5G, AI and digitalisation that support the region’s sustainability ambitions and inspire the next generation of changemakers.”

Kirsty Fitzgibbon from Ericsson (www.ericsson.com) added: “The transition to a more sustainable future depends on the ideas, energy and creativity of the next generation. By combining connectivity and digital innovation, we can help these young talents collaborate across borders and develop solutions that contribute to a more sustainable, inclusive and connected future.”

And Ann Molin, secretary general of the Hack for Earth Foundation (hackforearth.com), said: “The future belongs to those who dare to build it. Together with Ericsson, we are creating opportunities for young innovators across the Gulf to transform ambitious ideas into solutions that strengthen communities, accelerate sustainability and shape the connected societies of tomorrow. This is about investing in people whose innovations can create lasting impact far beyond the hackathon itself.”

Registration is open to people aged 18+ through the official Hack for Earth platform at ericsson.hackforearth.com.

Winning teams will join the six-month Build for Earth accelerator programme, where they will work alongside mentors, industry experts and Ericsson’s ecosystem to transform promising ideas into scalable offerings with real-world impact. Building on the success of previous Hack for Earth programmes, several winners have evolved into products and ventures deployed in markets around the world. Winners will also showcase their ideas at the Ericsson booth at Gitex Global (www.gitex.com) in December in Dubai.