University of Western Australia Launches ‘Hack for Impact 2026’ Global Innovation Challenge Connecting India and Australia
Chennai / Perth: The University of Western Australia (UWA), in collaboration with Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce, Perdaman and Invest and Trade Western Australia, has announced the launch of “Hack for Impact 2026,” a five-day global virtual innovation challenge that will bring together students from India and Australia to solve real-world industry problems.
Scheduled to take place from April 9 to 13, 2026, the programme will be conducted entirely online, enabling students from both countries to collaborate in multidisciplinary teams and develop innovative solutions to industry-led challenges.
The initiative marks a key milestone in UWA’s expanding engagement with India and comes as the university prepares to establish two international branch campuses in Mumbai and Chennai in 2026, representing the institution’s first international expansion.
Platform for cross-border innovation
Hack for Impact 2026 is designed as a high-impact innovation platform where students will work on real-world challenges presented by UWA’s industry partners. Participants will develop solutions that are practical, scalable and market-ready.
The hackathon will focus on future-oriented sectors including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and technology, energy, education, agriculture, tourism and sports. Solutions will be assessed based on desirability, feasibility and viability, encouraging participants to move beyond theoretical ideas toward implementable solutions.
Registrations for the programme are currently open and will close on April 6, 2026. A mandatory online information session will be held on April 8, followed by the official launch on April 9.
The five-day event will feature a live launch, daily mentor sessions with professionals from India and Western Australia, dedicated team collaboration periods, and will conclude with a Shark Tank–style Grand Final, where shortlisted teams will pitch their innovations to an expert jury.
Participants will compete for a total prize pool of AUD 20,000 (approximately ₹12.5 lakh). In addition to prize money, students will receive certificates of participation, direct industry mentoring and post-hackathon support, providing hands-on exposure to global collaboration and innovation.
The programme is open to students from all academic disciplines, and organisers have noted that no prior hackathon experience is required, making the event accessible to both first-time participants and experienced innovators.
Strengthening India–Australia collaboration
Commenting on the initiative, Amit Chakma, Vice-Chancellor of UWA, said the programme aims to strengthen innovation ties between India and Australia.
“UWA Hack for Impact 2026 is designed to bridge innovation ecosystems in India and Australia, equipping tomorrow’s leaders with skills in design thinking, cross-cultural teamwork and entrepreneurial problem-solving. This initiative reflects our broader Indo-Pacific commitment to preparing students to tackle global challenges while strengthening bilateral collaboration through innovation,” he said.
Gaven Standon, Executive – Telstra Partner Ecosystem and President of AustCham India, said initiatives like Hack for Impact are essential in building trusted digital ecosystems.
“Secure connectivity, resilient digital infrastructure and trusted AI will be central to future economic growth. Hack for Impact 2026 creates a platform where students, industry and government from India and Australia can collaborate to design solutions that strengthen digital networks and apply AI responsibly to real-world challenges,” he said.
Students interested in participating can register online and attend the mandatory information session before joining the official launch of the hackathon on April 9.
