By Paul Madise, Mana

Lilongwe, June 23, MANA: The Ministry of Higher Education has announced the 2025 Malawi Hackathon Competition, a landmark national event designed to boost scientific research, innovation, and digital transformation.

Scheduled to run from August 31 to September 5, 2025, the hackathon will be hosted in partnership with the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) and the Malawi Research and Education Network (MAREN).

The competition will tap into the recently secured High Performance Computing (HPC) facility, a supercomputer acquired through the SADC Cyber-Infrastructure initiative and currently housed at MAREN.

The facility is expected to significantly enhance Malawi’s research capabilities and support the development of data-driven solutions to pressing national issues.

In a statement signed by Secretary for Higher Education, Dr. Levis Keliyasi Eneya, the hackathon is positioned as a strategic step toward building national capacity in advanced computing and innovation.

“This hackathon will bring together young minds, experts, and industry players to create digital solutions for Malawi’s development challenges. It is a critical investment in our future,” said Dr. Eneya.

The announcement comes on the heels of the SADC Council of Ministers Meeting on Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from June 17 to 20, 2025.

At the summit, 26 resolutions were adopted, including Decision 10, which encourages member states to implement the SADC Cyber-Infrastructure Framework and develop local high-performance computing capabilities.

During the session, Minister of Higher Education, Hon. Dr. Jessie Kabwila, announced Malawi’s intention to host the HPC Hackathon, reaffirming the country’s commitment to regional collaboration and youth empowerment.

She emphasized the importance of equipping the next generation with advanced skills, aligned with labor market trends highlighted in the World Economic Forum’s 2025–2030 Future of Jobs report.

The hackathon will focus on innovation across strategic sectors such as education, health, energy, agriculture, tourism, mining, finance, industry, trade, transport, and security.

Participants will be expected to develop digital and technological solutions that are practical, scalable, and responsive to real-world challenges.

According to the Ministry, the objectives of the hackathon include developing new technological tools aligned with the ATMM Strategy recognizing and rewarding outstanding innovations establishing incubation and accelerator programmes fostering professional networks and promoting the creation of patentable intellectual property.

Beyond the competition, the event aims to cultivate a strong culture of entrepreneurship and collaboration by bringing together students, researchers, tech developers, donors, and industry leaders.

Participants will also benefit from mentorship opportunities, skills-building sessions, and exposure to investment networks.

The hackathon marks a significant step in realizing Malawi 2063 aspirations and positioning the nation as a digital innovation hub in the region.