Creativa & MINT Launch Tech Hackathon to Foster Innovation – waya.media

Report on the CREATIVA x MINT Tech Hackathon Initiative

Executive Summary

A nationwide technology hackathon has been launched through a strategic partnership between CREATIVA Innovation Hubs and MINT by EG Bank. This initiative, supported by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), is designed to bolster Egypt’s innovation and startup ecosystem. The event aims to empower young entrepreneurs and developers to create technology-enabled solutions for real-world challenges, thereby contributing directly to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The CREATIVA x MINT Tech Hackathon is fundamentally aligned with several key SDGs by fostering an environment of innovation, economic growth, and collaboration. The initiative’s objectives directly support the following goals:

• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): By nurturing startups and empowering entrepreneurs, the hackathon stimulates job creation and promotes a sustainable, innovation-led economy.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The event’s core mission is to foster technological innovation and support the development of a resilient infrastructure for Egypt’s burgeoning tech industry.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): Participants gain valuable experience, enhancing their digital skills and creative problem-solving abilities, which contributes to lifelong learning opportunities.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By hosting the event simultaneously in Alexandria, Ismailia, Tanta, and Mansoura, the initiative ensures wider geographic access to opportunities, reducing regional disparities for young innovators.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The collaboration between a government-backed entity (CREATIVA), a private sector bank (MINT by EG Bank), and an ecosystem enabler (Startup Factory) exemplifies a powerful multi-stakeholder partnership for sustainable development.

Program Objectives and Structure

The three-day hackathon, organized in partnership with Startup Factory, is structured to achieve specific outcomes that advance sustainable development through technology.

Core Objectives

• To empower tech-driven entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into viable and sustainable projects with real-world impact.
• To foster collaboration among young talents from diverse backgrounds, encouraging the exchange of ideas to solve pressing challenges.
• To connect and mobilize local talent across Egypt’s key regions, decentralizing innovation and promoting inclusive growth.

Participant Incentives and Support Mechanisms

To encourage participation and support the long-term viability of the generated ideas, the program offers financial incentives and foundational business support, aligning with SDG 8 by facilitating economic participation.

Financial Awards

A total prize pool of EGP 180,000 will be distributed among the top three winning ideas from each of the four governorates.

1. First Place: EGP 20,000
2. Second Place: EGP 15,000
3. Third Place: EGP 10,000

Financial Inclusion Support

In a direct effort to promote financial inclusion, all participants, including startups and individual innovators, will receive a free EG Bank account to support their future business operations and integration into the formal economy.

Conclusion

The CREATIVA x MINT Tech Hackathon serves as a critical platform for advancing Egypt’s national innovation agenda while contributing tangibly to the Sustainable Development Goals. By empowering youth, enhancing digital skills, and fostering public-private partnerships, the initiative reinforces the mission to build a robust, inclusive, and innovation-driven economy for a sustainable future.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 4: Quality Education: The article highlights the initiative’s focus on “supporting digital skills,” which is a key component of providing relevant technical and vocational training to youth for employment and entrepreneurship.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The hackathon’s primary goal is to “foster innovation and entrepreneurship nationwide” and “build a strong, innovation-led economy” by supporting a “startup ecosystem” and empowering entrepreneurs to “transform ideas into sustainable projects.”
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The event is a “tech hackathon” designed to “empower participants to develop innovative tech-enabled solutions.” It directly supports technological development and innovation by providing financial resources (cash prizes and bank accounts) to new tech startups.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The initiative is a multi-stakeholder collaboration. The article explicitly mentions the partnership between “Creativa Innovation Hubs” (a government-backed entity), “MINT by EG Bank” (private sector), the “Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA)” (public sector), and “Startup Factory” (private sector).

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. SDG 4: Quality Education – Target 4.4

   • This target aims to substantially increase the number of youth and adults with relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment and entrepreneurship. The article states the hackathon’s mission includes “empowering youth, supporting digital skills, and encouraging creative problem-solving,” which directly contributes to this target by equipping young participants with practical tech and entrepreneurial skills.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Target 8.3

   • This target focuses on promoting policies that support entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation, and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises. The article describes the initiative as a “broader effort… to foster innovation and entrepreneurship nationwide” and to “empower Egypt’s innovators and tech-driven entrepreneurs,” which aligns perfectly with this target. The provision of prizes and bank accounts encourages the formalization of new startups.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Target 9.3

   • This target calls for increasing the access of small-scale enterprises to financial services. The article details that the hackathon provides direct financial support to emerging entrepreneurs and startups through “cash prizes totaling EGP 180,000” and by giving all participants “a free EG Bank account,” thereby improving their access to essential financial services.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Target 17.17

   • This target encourages effective public-private partnerships. The article clearly outlines such a partnership, stating that “Creativa Innovation Hubs, in collaboration with MINT by EG Bank” are launching the hackathon, and that this is part of an effort by the government’s “Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA)” and the private “EG Bank.” The involvement of “Startup Factory” further solidifies this multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Related to SDG 4 (Target 4.4)

   • Implied Indicator: The number of young people participating in the hackathon. The article mentions the event aims to unite “young entrepreneurs, developers, and creative minds across Egypt,” implying that the number of participants serves as a measure of youth engagement in digital skills development.

2. Related to SDG 8 (Target 8.3) & SDG 9 (Target 9.3)

   • Mentioned Indicator: The amount of financial resources provided to startups. The article specifies “EGP 180K in cash prizes” and the provision of “free EG Bank accounts” to all participants. This is a direct, quantifiable measure of financial support for entrepreneurship.
   • Implied Indicator: The number of new tech-enabled startups or sustainable projects created. The initiative’s goal is to “transform ideas into sustainable projects” and support “tech enabled startups,” suggesting that the number of viable projects emerging from the hackathon is a key success metric.

3. Related to SDG 17 (Target 17.17)

   • Mentioned Indicator: The existence and number of cross-sectoral partnerships. The article explicitly names the collaborating entities: “Creativa Innovation Hubs,” “MINT by EG Bank,” “Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA),” and “Startup Factory.” The formation of this public-private partnership is itself an indicator of progress towards this target.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: waya.media