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SDG Open Hack! Singapore 2024: Transforming Ideas into Sustainable Impact
Close to 1000 participants and 70 mentors came together at the SDG Open Hack! Singapore 2024 to produce innovative solutions to pressing global societal and environmental challenges.
Since 2021, the "SDG Open Hack! Singapore" has been organized as an impactful annual event inspired by Open Geneva, consisting of a series of hackathons held across tertiary education institutions and universities in Singapore.
Led by the purpose-driven social enterprise Global Green Economic Foundation (GGEF) headquartered in Singapore along with supporting partners such as Open Geneva, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the University of Geneva, and educational and corporate partners in Singapore, the event encourages young change-makers to develop innovative solutions for the future aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 2024 edition
This year's edition brought together nearly 1000 participants across 7 universities and polytechnics, focusing on societal and environmental challenges linked to three SDGs:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Over the course of 24-hour hackathons held at 7 campuses across Singapour, teams of students from diverse backgrounds passionately worked on innovative projects, guided by the expertise of over 70 industry mentors who dedicated over 100 hours of their time and knowledge to empower the teams.
Innovative ideas to address global challenges
SDG Open Hack! 2024 culminated in a Grand Finale where passionate teams from both polytechnics and universities presented their innovative ideas. Among the winning projects were:
- "AlgaCrete:" An eco-friendly building material that not only uses CO2 to grow, but also continues to capture it even after it's built.
The solution tackled SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and the team was awarded with a the Entrepreneurial Programme for Rural Development & Sustainability in Akita Prefecture, Japan


- "Spore-taneous Living": Interlocking modular bricks grown from mycelium mushroom roots, combined with plant waste like corn husks and wheat stalks, and treated with a waterproof coating to create sustainable and eco-friendly homes.
The solution tackled SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and the team was awarded with a Sustainability Experiential Learning Trip to Mana Earthly Paradise in Ubud, Bali.


- "GRIP" Automated Workflow Creation: A modular, weekly schedule for students with a focus on study-life balance using AI technology.
The solution tackled SDG 3 (Good health and well-being) and the team was awarded with an internship opportunity with corporate partners


- Microscale Refrigeration Cycle Thermal Recovery (MRCTR®): A technology for heat recovery with a heat exchanger offering a 2-in-1 heat pump water heater and aircon.The solution tackled SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy) and the team was awarded with an internship opportunity with corporate partners.


To discover more innovative solutions, check out the Sparkboard or watch the Grand Finale Highlight Video below.
A strong link between Singapore and Geneva
Since 2021, the Singapore-based social enterprise Global Green Economic Foundation (GGEF) has successfully hosted four annual editions of the SDG Open Hack! Singapore in collaboration with 85 corporate and educational partners, and with key support from the Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore and the global real estate company, City Developments Limited (CDL). These events have brought together nearly 1800 students and 130 professional mentors to foster open innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In total, more than 270 innovative solutions have been developed by the participating teams over the years.
Inspired by her experience as a panel judge at the SDG Open Hack! at Tsinghua University in 2019, GGEF Founder & CEO, Christina Lee, recognized the value of this experiential learning for future leaders. Driven by a desire to empower students in Asia to build a more sustainable future, she spearheaded the launch of the initiative in Singapore.
Through its partnership with GGEF, Open Geneva played a key role by providing essential support, such as organizing innovation bootcamps, offering their "Sparkboard" digital hackathon platform, and guiding the strategic implementation of the program in Singapore.
Today, the SDG Open Hack! Singapore stands as a testament to the strong link between Geneva and Singapore. Christina Lee explains how the collaboration is truly synergetic: "This collaboration between Singapore and Geneva underscores the powerful synergy between our respective activities, where knowledge, expertise, and networks flow seamlessly across borders. Our shared commitment to the SDGs ensures that our efforts are mutually reinforcing, with Singapore serving as a key regional hub for action, while Geneva continues to be a global epicenter for policy and international dialogue. By leveraging the strengths of both cities, we create a dynamic platform that accelerates progress, fosters cross-border partnerships, and amplifies the impact of our work towards a more sustainable future.”
This partnership not only offers the winning teams a transformative SDG learning experience but also continues to provide an elevated platform for skill development. In past years, students have benefited from remarkable rewards, such as incubation programs, internships with corporate partners, and the chance to participate in an immersive overseas sustainability trip, all of which have significantly enriched their academic and professional growth.
One of the winning teams of the SDG Open Hack! Singapore 2023 was given the life-changing opportunity to attend the Geneva SDG Summer School in 2024. Upon their return, they shared valuable insights from their European experience as mentors with the teams participating in the following year’s SDG Open Hack! Singapore, spanning across the seven campuses. This exchange enriched the participants' understanding of diverse perspectives and cultural approaches to sustainable development challenges, promoting a deeper appreciation for the importance of international collaboration in addressing global issues.
Learn more about the SDG Open Hack! initiative.