91 Students Design Climate Solutions at Singapore Hackathon

Ninety-one students across Singapore proved that the next generation isn't waiting around to solve climate challenges. They're already building the solutions.

The fifth annual Hyundai Go Green Hackathon brought together teens and young adults aged 14 to 23 from nine local and international schools this year. Working in 25 teams over two months, they tackled two real-world problems: how to transform community spaces into cooling centers during heat waves, and how to turn everyday vehicles into emergency shelters during floods, heat extremes, and air quality crises.

This marks the largest cohort the program has ever seen. Hosted by Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore and partners including Temasek Foundation and the National University of Singapore, the hackathon timed perfectly with Singapore's Year of Climate Adaptation, a nationwide push to prepare communities for increasing climate risks.

The students didn't just brainstorm abstract ideas. They worked alongside mentors from industry and academia to develop practical, actionable concepts that could inform future urban planning and mobility solutions across Singapore and beyond.

Seven winning teams emerged from the competition, evaluated on relevance, feasibility, innovation, and real-world impact. Winners received certificates, vouchers, and even exclusive Hyundai IONIQ 5 model cars to commemorate their achievement.

The Ripple Effect

What makes this program special isn't just the clever solutions students designed. It's how the hackathon connects young minds directly with the organizations and agencies that can actually implement their ideas.

By partnering with Singapore's Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, the program feeds youth-generated concepts directly into the country's first National Adaptation Plan. That's the long-term living strategy Singapore is building to protect its people from climate impacts.

The collaboration sends a powerful message: when it comes to climate adaptation, youth voices aren't just welcomed at the table. They're essential to the blueprint.

Dr. Park Hyun Sung, CEO of HMGICS, emphasized the program's commitment to growing future-ready youth through hands-on innovation. Meanwhile, Temasek Foundation's Woon Saet Nyoon noted that today's students are tomorrow's solution-makers, and programs like this empower them to lead.

The hackathon represents just the beginning of a broader partnership formalized last September between HMGICS and Temasek Foundation focused on youth development. As climate risks grow more urgent, Singapore is betting that investing in young innovators today will build the resilience communities need tomorrow.