Prizes and awards

Reaching the Grand Final of the Imperial Hackathon is an achievement in itself. But for the teams that go the furthest, there are some truly exciting prizes on offer — including the opportunity to visit one of the world's leading universities in London.

Every team that reaches the Grand Final will receive either a podium award or a specialist award. No team goes home empty handed. 

Champion team — Gold

The gold award is our highest honour and recognises the team that produces the most outstanding solution across all judging criteria — scientific rigour, innovation, real-world impact, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and quality of presentation.

The champion team receives:

• A HKD $20,000 flight contribution for the entire team to travel to London to attend the Global Natural Science and Innovation Competition Finals — an extraordinary opportunity to showcase your work on an international stage

• Champion team trophy

• Gold medal for each team member

• Letter of recommendation from one academic judge at Imperial — valid for two years from the date of Hackathon Final, this letter is a meaningful addition to career internship applications and personal statements and reflects the quality and ambition of your work at the Grand Final

• First place certificate for each team member
• A featured case study of your winning solution published on Imperial College London's Global Hackathon website and social media channels 

Second place team — Silver

The silver award recognises exceptional work and outstanding achievement at the Grand Final.

The second place team receives:

• HKD $1,500 Amazon voucher for each team member

• Second place team trophy

• Silver medal for each team member

• Second place certificate for each team member

Third place team — Bronze

The bronze award recognises an excellent performance and a solution of real quality and ambition.

The third place team receives:

• HKD $1,000 Amazon voucher for each team member

• Third place team trophy

• Bronze medal for each team member
• Third place certificate for each team member

Specialist awards

In addition to the podium awards, four specialist awards celebrate excellence in specific areas of the competition. These awards are open to all seven Grand Final teams and are presented to teams not placed in the top three — ensuring that every team that reaches the Grand Final is recognised for their hard work and achievement.

Best innovation award

Awarded to the team that brings the most original, creative, and inventive thinking to their chosen challenge. We are looking for solutions that surprise us — fresh approaches to real problems that we have not seen before.

Greatest social impact award

Awarded to the team whose solution has the greatest potential to make a meaningful difference to communities in Hong Kong or Macau. Science is most powerful when it serves people — this award celebrates that conviction.

Best STEMB integration award

Awarded to the team that most effectively brings together science, technology, engineering, medicine, and business in a single, coherent solution. The best teams do not just divide the work — they genuinely think together across disciplines.

Best sustainability award

Awarded to the team that produces the strongest solution to a green or environmental challenge, demonstrating both scientific rigour and a genuine commitment to a more sustainable Greater Bay Area.

All Grand Final participants

Every team member who competes at the Grand Final receives:

• An Imperial Hackathon Grand Finalist certificate of achievement — recognising your selection from all entries to present at the Grand Final at Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

• An official Imperial Hackathon T-shirt