Riyadh:Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz recognized the winners of the inaugural Energy Hackathon during a closing ceremony organized by the Ministry of Energy under his patronage.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the ceremony took place during the 25th WPC Energy Congress, which is being hosted by Saudi Arabia as part of Energy Week in Riyadh. Six teams were awarded for their achievements across three categories Operational Efficiency, Transformative Innovation, and Intelligent Control.

The hackathon attracted over 6,700 participants from more than 40 cities across Saudi Arabia, resulting in the formation of over 1,200 teams. More than 35 teams, involving over 145 innovators, progressed to the hackathon bootcamp hosted by the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) from October 7 to 9. During this phase, participants received guidance through daily mentoring sessions with industry specialists, workshops, and panel discussions focusing on the future of energy and entrepreneurship.

The bootcamp concluded with judging rounds where teams presented their solutions to expert panels, resulting in six teams advancing to the closing ceremony. These winning teams will now participate in a four-week venture development program designed to prepare their projects for business incubation and acceleration, facilitating the transition from concept to implementation.

The hackathon initiative is part of the Ministry of Energy's strategy to promote innovation and empower national talent to address challenges in the energy sector, aligning with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.