2016HackNTU: Largest Student-Organized Hackathon in Asia

The 2016 HackNTU was held at the NTU Sports Center during August 19-21. Jointly organized by the Taidah Entrepreneurship Center and HackNTU Student Preparatory Team, the three-day/two-night hackathon attracted over 600 participants from around the world, including students as well as industry professionals, which made it the largest hacking event in Asia.

On the third day of the event, 160 teams presented their hacking projects before a panel of judges. In the end, the judges selected thirteen teams from across the five competition categories of gaming, financial technology, smart living, social design, and blockchain and big data to present their demonstrations on stage.

HackNTU is a non-profit community established by students that promotes world exploration and the application of technology to innovate solutions for the world's problems. HackNTU held the first hackathon at NTU, which was also the first student-organized hacking event in East Asia, in 2013.

Hackathons have gained popularity in Taiwan in recent years. These events have expanded beyond the world of techies to incorporate elements from diverse fields and address social issues, such as education, community service, and citizen participation.

Besides receiving support from the university, the 2016 HackNTU also enjoyed the support of numerous corporate sponsors, including Chunghwa Telecom, Cathay Financial Holding, TutorABC, CTBC Bank, Nogle, and Samsung Taiwan. Moreover, government agencies, including the Taipei City Government, the Information Management Center of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, also played an active role in the hackathon. This trilateral support of academia, industry, and government helped to ensure the success of the event.

This article was originally featured in NTU Highlights (October 2016).