The World Bank Group Small AI for Development Hackathon Challenge 2026 (Fully Funded to present at the 2026 Global AI and Digital Summit in Seoul, South Korea)

Application Deadline: 26 September 2026

Applications are actually open for the 2026 World Bank Group Small AI for Development Hackathon Challenge. Artificial intelligence is altering what is feasible in improvement. But most AI instruments have been constructed for a world with dependable connectivity, a smartphone in hand, and a consumer already fluent in how to work together with AI. The Small AI for Development Hackathon Challenge is an open name to younger innovators worldwide to construct AI options that work in the actual circumstances going through creating economies, the place the individuals with the most to acquire are the furthest from the instruments being constructed.

What Is Small AI?

Small AI is a design method for AI improvement that promotes focused, use-case-driven options. While general-purpose giant language fashions require intensive data-center infrastructure and battle to scale in constrained environments, small AI focuses on leveraging particular capabilities to clear up a single, well-defined drawback by leveraging accessible units: primary telephones, sensors, or microcontrollers operating fashions domestically.

Competition Details

Organized by the World Bank Group’s Digital and AI Vice Presidency, in collaboration with the Youth Summit, Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC), Information and Technology Solutions (ITS), and managed by Hack-Nation, this hackathon invites younger innovators to spend one weekend constructing a working small AI answer to an actual improvement problem by a two-day competitors happening on 3–4 October 2026.

How it runs 

Promotion throughout the summer season → competitors weekend in early October together with a video submission → knowledgeable analysis → Bank panel judging → winner showcases in Seoul.

Application Requirements

• To enter the competitors, eligible candidates should first register for the Hackathon by the official Hack-Nation registration web page.
• Registered members will then develop and submit their competitors entry throughout the Hackathon in accordance with the directions, deadlines, and technical necessities offered on the Hack-Nation platform.
• Hack-Nation will consider the eligible entries and submit a shortlist to the World Bank Group, which can function the ultimate judging authority and choose the winners.
• Applicants will select one sector problem — in well being, agriculture, or tourism — and construct an answer that demonstrates a transparent worth add in a constrained setting.

Applicants are invited to mirror candidly: What does localizing AI improvement imply for you? 

Eligibility Requirements

• The competitors is open to candidates aged 18 to 35, in line with the UN definition of youth, throughout the World Bank member countries. Applicants from rising economies are strongly inspired to apply.
• Applications could also be submitted both by a person or by a group of up to 4 members.
• Applications to take part and hack-a-thon submissions have to be all submitted in English. Each group member should register individually, fulfill all eligibility necessities, and be recognized as part of the similar group earlier than the registration deadline.
• An particular person could take part in just one competitors entry. 

Benefits

• Three winners can be chosen from the entries generated at the hack-a-thon, one from every of the classes – Agriculture, Health, and Tourism.  The winners can be invited to Seoul, South Korea to present at the Global AI and Digital Summit 2026, co-hosted by the World Bank Group and the Government of Korea from 19 to 22 October 2026. 
• Three winners (one every from Agriculture, Health, Tourism) can be featured in Seoul in related periods (i.e. (1) AI for People – Heath and Education (2) How Open Network and AI are Rewriting the Rules for Small Business in Agriculture and Tourism) on October 21, 2026.
•  Travel bills can be coated in full topic to cheap journey prices, lodging, and designated event-related bills, as decided by the Organizers in accordance with inside logistics pointers.

Application Timeline:

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the World Bank Group Small AI for Development Hackathon Challenge