Inside Hyundai Motor Group’s Hackathon: Turning Students’ Bold Ideas into Real Solutions
Hyundai’s annual hackathon in Singapore challenges students to design climate adaptation solutions, with winners recognized at a public exhibition in October.
Since 2022, Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS) and Hyundai CRADLE Singapore have co-organized an annual hackathon inviting students to address real-world problems using human-centered design. The 2026 edition, held under the theme 'Go Green: Climate Adaptation,' tasked 91 students from nine schools with two challenges: redesigning community spaces to mitigate extreme heat or developing car-based solutions for heatwaves, floods, and air quality emergencies. Participants toured facilities including a smart farm, climate research center, and Gardens by the Bay to ground their ideas in real-world data before prototyping with mentorship from HMGICS, Hyundai CRADLE, and NUS.
Teams worked over two months to refine their concepts, with mentors providing guidance rather than solutions. The finale on June 4, held at Temasek Shophouse, saw judges evaluate entries on relevance, feasibility, creativity, and impact. Winners included Team HeatSync for community spaces and Team License to Chill for car-based solutions, alongside special awards recognizing innovation, user experience, and feasibility across multiple schools.
Students described the experience as transformative, with mentorship helping them solidify ideas and presentation skills. Aqil from ITE College Central highlighted practical support in refining his team’s concept, while Kaelyn from River Valley High School expressed surprise at her team’s win, reflecting the competitive nature of the event.
The hackathon’s outcomes extend beyond awards, aiming to instill problem-solving mindsets in participants. Organizers emphasize the value of early exposure to tackling complex issues, with plans to expand participation to more local and international schools in future editions. Selected projects will be displayed at an exhibition at Temasek Shophouse on October 5 and 6.