FAQs

Imperial Hackathon Hong Kong 2025 challenges are based on real-world issues and local government priorities in Hong Kong. They cover areas like sustainability, healthcare, technology and business. 

View the 2025 challenges

After registering your interest, you can form your team and choose your challenge. Your team starts the competition by submitting a 150-word proposal and a three-to-five-minute video pitch in response to one of our four challenges.  

Selected finalists will be invited to present their solutions at the Hackathon 2025 grand finale in November.  

You should expect to prepare your project in the weeks leading up to the team application deadline on 24 October, plus a full day for the grand finale on 22 November.  

Yes. You can join our online workshop in early October to learn more about the challenges, meet our judges and connect with other participants.

Finalist teams will be invited to a dedicated Imperial Hackathon workshop and receive mentoring and support from Imperial academics, alumni and from industry experts.  

The Hackathon 2025 is open to high school students in grades 10 to 12 who live in Hong Kong. 

Yes, returning participants are welcome to apply.

The Imperial Hackathon is designed to encourage your skills in creativity, problem-solving and teamwork. Technical skills like coding can be useful, but they’re not mandatory. We encourage interdisciplinary teams as projects can cover ideas in healthcare, sustainability, entrepreneurship, life sciences and more. 

Friday 24 October 2025. Team applications after this date cannot be accepted. 

Your team should include between four and five members. 

A maximum of three teams can apply from each school. 

We encourage you to form a team with your peers directly. The best way to do this is by speaking to your university's guidance counsellors, science teachers to identify potential teammates.  

Unfortunately, we can't guarantee team placements, however, if you've exhausted all options and are still looking for a team closer to the team entry submission deadline, please fill out our registration form and we'll do our best to match you with others in a similar situation. 

You can change your team up to the team application deadline on Friday 24 October 2025. Email us imperialhackathon@imperial.ac.uk about changes to your team.

Your team can still take part as long as it meets the minimum requirement of four members. Email us imperialhackathon@imperial.ac.uk about changes to your team.

Sorry to see you go! Email imperialhackathon@imperial.ac.uk with the details of your team to withdraw from the competition.

You can submit your team’s initial pitch on our team application form between Wednesday 1 October and Friday 24 October. Your initial pitch includes a 150-word written proposal and a three-to-five-minute video.

If your team is selected as Imperial Hackathon finalists, you will make your final pitch in-person at the grand finale event in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, teams that cannot join the grand finale in person cannot participate remotely.

Your pitch and presentations should be delivered in English.

Saturday 22 November 2025. The event will take place at the Data Technology Hub, Hong Kong Science & Technology Park.

Absolutely.

Register for your free audience ticket

Team members competing in the final can register for up to two free guest tickets.

Register for your free guest tickets

It depends on your final pitch. All finalist teams are required to pre-submit their slide deck to imperialhackathon@imperial.ac.uk 48 hours before the grand finale, so a laptop isn't required for simply presenting your slides. However, if you plan to show a live demo or a prototype, you should bring your own laptop if it’s needed for demonstration.
  

All finalists will be provided with a unified Imperial Hackathon T-shirt to wear during the grand finale. We recommend you wear comfortable, smart-casual clothing and bottoms to pair with the T-shirt. 

Yes. The venue has Wi-Fi and our team can provide technical support.

Refreshments will be available for finalists. and their guests.

Your pitch will be evaluated on its creativity, innovation and feasibility, as well as its potential impact, interdisciplinarity and how you’ve worked as a team. 

The Hackathon 2025 judges include Imperial academics, external industry experts and members of Imperial’s Student Recruitment team.

The top three finalist teams can win big prizes at the Hackathon 2025. All finalists receive a certificate of participation.  
 
Learn more about the prizes for Imperial Hackathon 2025

No. You must arrange your own accommodation, but we can suggest nearby hotels or hostels.

No. You’ll need to cover your own costs for travel, including flights, visas and accommodation.