Innovative ideas ranging from offline education platforms to artificial intelligence-driven collaboration tools took centre stage at the Youth Tech-Novation Hackathon 2026, where young Bhutanese innovators demonstrated how technology can be used to tackle pressing challenges and contribute to the country’s digital transformation.
The national event brought together 21 teams from across Bhutan, providing participants with an opportunity to refine concepts, develop prototypes, and pitch technology-based solutions with practical applications. The hackathon marked the culmination of a broader digital skills programme that has engaged more than 900 young people since May through youth centres, schools, and tertiary institutions nationwide.
Organised by the Programme and Youth Coordination Division under the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) in collaboration with UNICEF, the initiative aimed to equip young people with the competencies needed to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.
According to organisers, the programme was designed to nurture innovation and strengthen digital literacy among youth, ultimately supporting Bhutan’s long-term digital development goals.
Speaking at the event, Principal Counsellor of the Programme and Youth Coordination Division, Amrith Bdr Subba, highlighted the importance of preparing Bhutanese youth for a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
“As the world advances technologically at an unprecedented pace, it is crucial for Bhutanese youth to develop strong ICT and technical skills,” he said. “Providing platforms such as this enables young people to build the capabilities required to succeed in the digital economy of the 21st century.”
The digital skills programme was implemented in three stages. Foundational digital literacy training was delivered by Athang Training Academy across 14 locations, including 13 youth centres. Intermediate and advanced training programmes were subsequently conducted by colleges under the Royal University of Bhutan, including the College of Science and Technology (CST), Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology (GCIT), and Gedu College of Business Studies.
Among the standout projects was EDUMOS, developed by Team EON from the College of Science and Technology. The innovation secured first place in the Level Two category for its offline learning platform, which seeks to expand educational access in areas with limited or no internet connectivity.
Team member Sonam Lhendup Dorji said such programmes play a critical role in helping young people transform ideas into meaningful innovations.
“For years, we have mainly focused on learning and consuming knowledge. Platforms like this encourage us to create, innovate, and apply what we have learned to develop solutions that can benefit society,” he said.
In the Open Category, Team JINA, consisting of out-of-school youth, emerged as the winner with a paid survey and data collection platform designed to address gaps in reliable data availability. The team hopes to further develop the platform for use by organisations and industries across Bhutan.
“We intend to use the prize money to enhance the platform and help organisations make more informed, data-driven decisions that support national development,” said team member Soran Acharya.
The highest honour in the Level Three category went to Team FAIR Code from CST for Peerlytics, an AI-powered collaborative writing platform. The tool enables lecturers and students to work together while automatically tracking individual contributions and providing assessment support through artificial intelligence.
Kezang Tshomo of Team FAIR Code said the hackathon offered invaluable opportunities for learning and teamwork.
“The experience allows us to collaborate, explore new technologies, and strengthen our coding and problem-solving skills,” she said.
Organisers described the hackathon as a reflection of their commitment to cultivating a generation of digitally skilled and innovative young people capable of driving Bhutan’s future growth. As digital transformation accelerates across sectors, initiatives such as the Youth Tech-Novation Hackathon are expected to play an increasingly important role in fostering homegrown solutions and empowering the nation’s next generation of technology leaders.
