Hack the challenges. Be the solution.

The Ericsson Sustainability Challenge invites students from UAE and several other Gulf countries to develop innovative solutions to real sustainability challenges using emerging technologies, entrepreneurship and collaborative problem-solving.

Working in teams, students will explore how digital technologies can accelerate sustainable development while gaining experience in innovation, teamwork, leadership and pitching. Expert mentors from Ericsson and the telecom sector will be available for the teams during the online hackathon.

The Ericsson Sustainability Challenge is built around three challenges for a more sustainable future: AI for Impact, Connected Planet and Connected People.

Recognition and Awards

The winning team from each of the three challenge categories will be selected by a jury from Ericsson, and receive the following:

• A spot in Build for Earth, Hack for Earth’s global online accelerator program running from January to June 2027.
• An opportunity to showcase your projects at the Ericsson Sustainability Award Ceremony at GITEX Global in December 2026.
• International recognition for their innovation.

Build for Earth supports outstanding teams in transforming their ideas into scalable ventures through expert mentoring, leadership development, business coaching, investor readiness and access to an international network of partners and advisors.

About Hack for Earth

Hack for Earth is a Swedish organization and one of the world’s leading platforms for citizen-driven sustainability innovation.

Since its inception in 2021, Hack for Earth has engaged more than 25,000 participants from over 125 countries, bringing together students, entrepreneurs, researchers, corporations, governments and international organizations to co-create real solutions supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Our unique and published Dream • Hack • Build method goes beyond the traditional hackathon by combining challenge discovery, collaborative innovation and long-term acceleration, enabling promising ideas to continue their journey toward real-world implementation.

Hack for Earth has organized innovation initiatives connected to the United Nations, COP27, COP28, Expo 2020 Dubai, the World Economic Forum in Davos, London Climate Action Week and New York Climate Week, working alongside global partners to empower innovators to create measurable impact.

We are proud to organize the Ericsson Sustainability Challenge together with Ericsson, creating a platform that empowers university students across the region to develop solutions that contribute to a more sustainable and connected future.

Read more and apply to join the Ericsson Sustainability Challenge below.