2nd SmallAI Hackathon

2^nd Small AI Hackathon 2026 - An Online International Innovation Challenge

The 2^nd SmallAI Hackathon 2026 is a global innovation-driven competition designed to bring together students, researchers, and young professionals to develop impactful solutions using Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Intelligent Systems. The hackathon aims to encourage participants to build real-world, scalable AI solutions across domains such as automation, data science, computer vision, and intelligent decision-making systems.

The event is jointly organized by Bluffdale ACM Chapter, Salt Lake County, Silicon Slopes, Utah, USA and technically sponsored by SCRS US Center at Wust.

2^nd SmallAI Hackathon 2026 will be held in online mode through ZOOM Meeting.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Open to Undergraduate students, Postgraduate students, and Research Scholars
• Participants from any discipline or specialization are eligible
• Open to national and international participants
• Both individual participants and teams are allowed

Team Formation Rules:

• Team Size: 1–4 members
• Inter-college teams: Allowed
• Inter-specialization teams: Allowed
• Each participant can be part of only one team

Themes / Problem Statements

Participants may submit solutions aligned with any one of the following themes:

• AI for Climate Intelligence
• Smart Water AI Systems
• AI-Powered Energy Optimization
• Urban AI & Smart Cities
• AI Robotics for Emergency Response
• AI for Smart Grid Intelligence
• Healthcare AI & Medical Intelligence
• Environmental AI Analytics
• AI for Community Resilience
• Air Quality AI & Carbon Intelligence

Number of problem statements:

• Participants will work on one problem statement of their choice under the selected theme (self-defined problem statements are allowed).

Competition Format & Process

• The ideathon will be conducted in two rounds:

Round 1: Idea Submission (Shortlisting Round)

• Teams submit an idea abstract / concept proposal
• Submissions will be evaluated based on:
  • Innovation & originality
  • Relevance to the chosen theme
  • Feasibility & impact
• Shortlisted teams will advance to Round 2

 Duration: Submit Before April 16, 2026

Round 2: Final Presentation

• Finalists present their solution in a live virtual demo & pitch session to the judging panel.• Presentations will include a demo of the prototype, a Q&A, and discussion of future scope.

Event Details

• Event Dates: April 18-19, 2026
• Mode: Online
• Registration Fee: No Registration Fee
• Prize Pool: USD 1,750

Rules & Guidelines

• Code of Conduct: Participants must maintain a respectful, inclusive environment — misconduct leads to disqualification.
• Originality: All work must be created during the hackathon; pre-existing codebases or projects are not permitted unless explicitly declared and approved.
• Open Source Usage: Use of open-source tools, APIs, and libraries is permitted but must be credited in documentation.
• Intellectual Property (IP): Teams retain full IP rights; however, organizers may showcase projects for non-commercial promotion.
• Deadlines: All submissions must meet the specified cut-off times; late entries will not be evaluated.
• Judging Criteria: Teams will be judged on• Innovation & Creativity• Technical Implementation• Impact & Relevance• UX/UI & Design Quality• Presentation & Communication
• Judges’ decisions are final and binding.
• Organizers reserve the right to update rules with prior notice.

Registration Deadline- April 16, 2026