AI for Connectivity Hackathon III: Securing Public Sector Networks

Join a Global Hackathon to enhance public sector networks.

🔍 Develop open-source AI solutions in public sector network management—strengthening and improving digital infrastructure in underserved regions.

📅 March 28-30, 2025 – Participate online or onsite in Geneva, collaborating with experts and peers to tackle real-world public sector challenges.

👨‍🏫 Work alongside industry mentors for insights and guidance on your projects.

💰 $5,000 prize pool for the winners!

🏆 Compete for a chance to join the exclusive 6-week GIGA & lablab NEXT incubator program!

🔔 Sign up now to secure your spot before the Kick-Off!

Join our Hackathon Discord channel to stay updated with the latest announcements, receive support, and collaborate with mentors and the community.

Join Discord Channel

Hackathon overview

The AI for Connectivity Hackathon III builds upon the mission of Giga, a global initiative by UNICEF and ITU dedicated to connecting every school to the internet and expanding access to information, opportunity, and choice. This edition focuses on fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance in public sector networks through open-source AI technologies—ensuring secure, efficient, and accountable management of connectivity infrastructure.

Public sector connectivity networks provide critical digital infrastructure for schools, healthcare facilities, and government institutions, enabling equitable access to education, healthcare, and governance. However, inefficiencies in compliance and security create vulnerabilities that can undermine these essential services.Optimizing their management is crucial to bridging the digital divide and advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

AI-powered, open-source solutions have the potential to optimize public networks.

This challenge is part of a global hackathon series uniting AI developers, policy experts, and innovators to co-create real-world solutions. Winning teams will gain access to an incubation program, including mentorship, resources, and technical credits, to refine and scale their projects—driving innovation in public sector digital infrastructure.

Apply to take a seat!

To participate in our hackathon, you must complete the application process. This applies to both online and onsite participants.

🌐 Online Participation

- Apply for a seat to enroll in the Hackathon

- Fill out the registration form

- Participate remotely from anywhere

🌉 Onsite Participation in Geneva

- Must be present in Geneva during the event

- Individual applications welcome

- Option for onsite matchmaking

Selected individuals may be eligible to have their travel and accommodation expenses covered

⚠️ Important Note for All Participants

Whether you're joining us online or onsite, all participants must complete these steps:

1. "Apply for a seat" on the lablab.ai event page and wait for approved.

2. Fill out registration form for Online or/and Onsite event.
3. Create or join a team
4. Submit your project through the lablab.ai platform

Join this hackathon to develop AI-powered solutions that enhance public sector networks.

Public sector connectivity networks are digital infrastructures that provide internet and communication services to public institutions such as schools, healthcare facilities, and government offices. These networks enable equitable access to essential services, fostering education, healthcare, governance, and economic development, particularly in underserved or remote areas. They are essential to bring connectivity, in our increasingly digitized world, to every corner of the globe.

This hackathon challenges participants to address pressing global issues by leveraging advanced AI technologies to improve the planning, procurement, operations, and maintenance of public sector networks. Innovators are encouraged to design creative solutions that enhance the efficiency and sustainability of these networks, improve access to critical services, and empower communities.

🌐 AI-Driven Network Lifecycle Optimization: Public sector networks often face inefficiencies across their lifecycle - from legacy manual processes, outdated data systems, ad-hoc maintenance to scarce resources, which can lead to subpar service delivery and increased costs.

Resource Hub

Unlock the Ultimate Resource Hub for Network Innovation

Explore our carefully curated guide designed to accelerate your network development projects.This collection includes datasets, tools, and simulators tailored to help you analyze connectivity gaps, optimize networks, and explore advanced technologies like 5G. Whether you’re working on rural connectivity, infrastructure planning, or cutting-edge telecom solutions, this resource hub equips you with everything you need to build impactful solutions efficiently.

Click here to access the guide and start exploring!

Build with your favourite technology

Select your preferred technology for app development.

Use any open-source technology to develop an innovative solution that addresses the challenge. Submissions must comply with the open-source requirements, ensuring transparency and accessibility of your project.

👉 Visit our AI Tech pages to discover available technologies.
👉 Check out our tutorials for detailed guidance on implementation. Start your project with Lablab.ai resources!

🔍 Note: While we encourage using tools listed on AI Tech, participants can also utilize any open-source technology not mentioned there, provided it aligns with the hackathon’s goals.

*AI Generated Imagery

Prizes

Winner

💰 Cash: $3,000

2nd Place

💰 Cash: $1,500

3rd Place

💰 Cash: $500

🏆Acceleration Opportunity

The top teams from this hackathon will secure a spot in the exclusive 6-week GIGA & lablab NEXT incubator program.

Please be aware that participation in lablab.ai hackathons is voluntary and subject to the specific rules and conditions outlined for each event. While we strive to provide a fair and rewarding experience for all participants, we cannot guarantee entry or success in securing prizes. All prizes and opportunities are subject to availability and participants must meet the established criteria to qualify. lablab.ai is not responsible nor held liable for any commitments or offers - including programs, giveaways, or prizes - made by third-party sponsors or partners of the hackathon. The availability and delivery of third-party prizes or benefits are solely at the discretion of the respective sponsors and are not guaranteed by lablab.ai. We reserve the right to make amendments, modifications, or cancellations to any part of the hackathon (including full cancellation of the event itself), including prizes and terms of participation, at our sole discretion. Whenever possible, we will endeavor to notify participants of significant changes within a reasonable timeframe. All submissions by participants must be original work, open source, and compliant with the MIT License unless specified otherwise. By participating, you agree to these terms, the overall event terms, and the lablab.ai general terms and are encouraged to review all event-related information carefully. Prize Distribution: lablab.ai and its partners reserve the right to distribute all prizes within a 90-day period following the end date of the hackathon. This period allows for the proper processing and verification needed to award prizes appropriately.

What to submit?

📋 Basic Information

• Project Title

• Short Description

• Long Description

• Technology & Category Tags

📸 Cover Image and Presentation

• Cover Image

• Video Presentation

• Slide Presentation

💻 App Hosting & Code Repository

• Public GitHub Repository

• Demo Application Platform

• Application URL

For further details and guidance, please visit Submission Guidelines

Judging Criteria: New vs. Returning Participants

Application of Technology (Execution & Effectiveness)

New Projects: How effectively does the solution integrate open-source and AI technologies to perform tasks autonomously, streamline processes, and enhance productivity?

Returning Projects: How has the implementation evolved? Have you significantly improved performance, scalability, or usability? Does it incorporate new AI capabilities or optimizations?

Presentation (Clarity & Communication)

New Projects: How well does the team explain technical details, practical impact, and alignment with open-source principles?

Returning Projects: How clearly does the team demonstrate what’s new? Is the evolution well-documented? Does the project showcase meaningful progress since the last version?

Impact (Real-World Value & Practicality)

New Projects: How effectively does the solution address a real-world challenge, improve operational efficiency, and create meaningful outcomes?

Returning Projects: Has the project been tested, refined, or deployed? Has it expanded its use cases, audience, or applications? Does it show measurable improvements in effectiveness?

Originality (Innovation & Creativity)

New Projects: How creative and unique is the approach? Does it introduce fresh thinking and innovative problem-solving?

Returning Projects: Does this version introduce new techniques, integrations, or use cases? Have key components been redesigned or improved? Does it go beyond past submissions?

🔍 Fairness Reminder

• All projects must be open-source to qualify.

• Returning projects won’t score higher just for having more time—judges will focus on what’s new and improved.

• New participants compete on equal terms—strong execution and originality matter more than past experience.

Note: To qualify for judging, submissions must utilize open-source technologies and also have their final project code open-sourced. This ensures transparency, collaboration, and alignment with the hackathon’s open-source ethos.

Hackathon Details

Join lablab.ai hackathon and innovate using the latest models in the market. Discover all the relevant details below.

🗓️ Where and when

The start date of the hackathon is mentioned according to the date specified on the hackathon page, cover and schedule. The hackathon will take place on the lablab.ai platform and lablab.ai Discord server , or join us in person in Geneva to experience the event live.

🦸🏼‍♂️ Who can join?

Everyone is welcome to participate, regardless of previous AI or coding experience! We encourage anyone with a passion for AI or an interest in exploring how it can be used in their field to join.

😅 What about teams?

If you don't have a team, don't worry! You can connect with other participants from all over the world on our dashboard or Discord server. We also recommend checking out our Discord server to find teammates and bounce around ideas. You can join the server here.

🛠️ How to participate

The hackathon will take place online on lablab.ai platform and lablab.ai Discord Server. Please register for both in order to participate. To participate click the "Enroll" button at the bottom of the page and read our Hackathon Guidelines and Getting Started Guide.