South Asian Hackathon 1.0

The South Asian Hackathon (SAH) 1.0 marks a historic milestone as South Asia’s first Transregional, Innovation-driven Hackathon dedicated to solving real-world technological, social, legal, and infrastructural challenges through practical, scalable and community-impactful digital solutions. Organised by the Centre for Development of Intellectual Property and Research (CDIPR), Naovina Development of Intellectual Property and Research Foundation in collaboration with WebXHub Pvt. Ltd. and the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the initiative seeks to integrate innovation with governance, digital rights, cyber safety, and intellectual property protection. The Hackathon aims to build a regional ecosystem where coders, designers, researchers, cybersecurity experts, digital rights advocates, policy thinkers, engineers, and young innovators converge to create solutions reflecting both global technological standards and South Asia’s unique socio-economic realities. The event facilitates an experiential innovation environment combining: Real-world problem statements, Technical mentorship from industry experts, Policy mentorship from UN IGF contributors, Prototype deployment pathways via WebxHub Pvt. Ltd. Bringing together stakeholders across South Asia and beyond, the Hackathon seeks to empower the next generation of innovators to address people-centric problems through a rights-based, technology-enabled lens. Hackathon Objectives To provide a structured platform for youth to develop AI-driven, IoT-based and software solutions for critical regional challenges. To cultivate technical, legal and innovation skills through hands-on problem-solving. To promote responsible and ethical innovation, aligning with global frameworks on data protection, cyber safety and digital rights. To encourage cross-border collaboration and exchange among innovators across South Asia. To familiarise participants with intellectual property rights, patent strategies and innovation management. To support the development of deployable prototypes that address governance, public service delivery and citizen welfare. To contribute to the South Asian Innovation Report 2025, which will compile the best solutions, insights and recommendations emerging from the Hackathon. Participating Countries The South Asian Hackathon 1.0 brings together innovators from diverse regional and international contexts, fostering a dynamic innovation ecosystem. South Asian & Regional Participants India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Afghanistan Extended Asia-Pacific Collaborators Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia Global Dialogue Partners United Kingdom, United States of America, Germany, France, and Australia Problem Statements & Innovation Tracks Below are the central challenges that participants will address. Each problem reflects a tangible governance or societal issue requiring immediate, tech-based intervention. 1. Copyright Content Checker for Students & Creators Problem Overview Students, designers and content creators across South Asia frequently and unknowingly publish copyrighted images and textual content. This generates risks such as copyright strikes, account suspension, legal notices, and academic misconduct. Solution Requirement Performing reverse image search Extracting metadata and EXIF data Identifying copyright, Creative Commons, Royalty-Free or Public Domain status Providing safe alternatives and attributions Intended Impact Reduce accidental copyright infringement Promote academic and creative ethics Support copyright literacy among youth and creators 2. Fake Trademark Detector for MSMEs Problem Overview Counterfeit trademarks and imitated brand logos have been increasingly harming small businesses across South Asia. MSMEs lack technical knowledge to verify brand originality. Solution Requirement Upload a logo or brand name Compare it with existing trademark records Receive similarity scores (textual + visual) Receive recommendations on legal remedies and registration Intended Impact Protection of business identity Reduction in trademark fraud Awareness of IP rights 3. WhatsApp Scam Detector for Elderly Citizens Problem Overview Elderly citizens are frequently targeted by digital scams through WhatsApp and SMS. They often lack the digital literacy to evaluate suspicious messages. Solution Requirement If the message is a scam A risk score Recommended actions such as blocking/reporting Intended Impact Protect vulnerable populations Reduce digital fraud Strengthen digital trust ecosystems 4. Online Harassment Auto-Report Tool for Schools Problem Overview Schools lack structured tools to monitor cyberbullying and online harassment. Manual monitoring is inefficient and slow. Solution Requirement Monitors chat platforms for abusive language Identifies harmful images Generates standardised reports Alerts school counsellors Intended Impact Protect school children from online abuse Create documentation trails for counsellors Promote safe digital learning environments 5. Fraud Detection Tool for Digital Loans Problem Overview Fake or predatory lending apps are increasing across the region, causing financial exploitation. Solution Requirement Identifies verified financial entities Flags unregistered lending platforms Categorises risk levels Provides immediate recommendations Intended Impact Protect citizens from digital loan scams Strengthen financial literacy Promote trustworthy fintech ecosystems 6. Garbage Overflow Alert System for Municipalities Problem Overview Fake or predatory lending apps are increasing across the region, causing financial exploitation. Solution Requirement Detect bin fill-levels Send alerts at 80% capacity Provide actionable insights to municipal workers Intended Impact Reduce garbage overflow Improve municipal waste management Ensure cleaner public spaces Format & Presentation Participants will undergo: Preliminary Presentation Round Final Presentation Round (For Selected Participants) Jury evaluations A final Hackathon Innovation Report 2025 will present top solutions.