ZuluLand Innovators Hackathon 2025 (Deadline: 8 August, 2025)

Applications are open for the ZuluLand Innovators Hackathon 2025. The Moses Kotane Research Institute (MKRI), through its Commercialising Innovation and Research (CIR) Programme, in partnership with local municipalities, invites youth, SMMEs, cooperatives, schools, and informal traders from the Zululand District to participate in the upcoming Grassroots Hackathon. This dynamic grassroots innovation challenge offers a platform for community-led problem solving and idea development, focusing on practical, affordable, and locally driven solutions.

“Zululand Innovates – Empowering Local Minds| Transforming Rural Futures” is the hackathon theme that encourages community-driven innovations in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and other relevant sectors. It focuses on low-tech, indigenous, frugal (economical) and service-based solutions.

Focus Areas

• Agriculture and Food Security: Manual or solar-powered tools, frugal irrigation systems, composting solutions
• Tourism and Cultural Preservation: Indigenous artefacts, rural hospitality models
• SMMEs and Manufacturing: Product/process innovations, low-cost vending systems
• Sustainability and Waste-to-Value: Recycled material tools, clean energy devices
• Youth and Community Services: Mobile community services, rural training models

Benefits

• In-kind support (equipment, tools, training) and any other relevant support to the solution/idea.
• Access to MKRI’s CIR and other Innovation Programme
• Mentorship and pilot project opportunities

Eligibility

Open to:

• Local youth and community
• Local inventors, creatives and makers
• Informal traders, schools, cooperatives, and SMMEs
• Elders and traditional knowledge holders from the following municipalities: AbaQulusi, eDumbe, Nongoma, Ulundi and Pongola.

Judging Criteria

• Relevance to local problems
• Cost-effectiveness and simplicity.
• Use of local/recycled materials
• Scalability and replication potential
• Community benefit and inclusivity

Application

Interested participants must submit their proposal topic ideas, which should include:

• A brief background
• A clear problem statement
• A proposed solution

Submissions must not exceed three (3) pages in total. Applications should be submitted by August 8, 2025 to hackathons@moseskotane.com.

For more information, 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND APPLY