The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) today (July 2) held the launch press conference for the 2026 Presidential Hackathon International Track, officially issuing a call for innovative teams from around the world to submit their solutions by the July 31 deadline. This year’s competition is themed “Digital Inclusion in the AI Era.” Participants are encouraged to draw on digital technologies and AI applications to explore ways to lower barriers to technology use, enabling more people to participate equitably in the digital society and share in the convenience and benefits brought by advances in AI.

Minister Lin Yi-jing noted that, as AI continues to advance rapidly and digital technologies become increasingly integrated into everyday life, countries around the world are actively exploring how best to harness digital tools to enhance the effectiveness of public services, foster shared social well-being, and address people’s real-life needs. Through this international competition platform, the Presidential Hackathon International Track aims to bring together the collective ingenuity of innovative teams from around the world and inspire more proposals that combine AI technologies with innovative thinking. The goal is to develop solutions with public value and real-world application potential, while promoting their continued implementation and broader adoption.

The press conference also welcomed back several Teams of Excellence from previous editions, including GreenhopeBCTW, CropNow, and Beyond Hearing, to share how they have progressed since the competition and their experiences in putting their solutions into practice. Their journeys clearly demonstrate that the International Track is more than a competition—it is also an important starting point for innovative solutions to continue growing and expanding their impact. The event also brought together ambassadors, envoys, and representatives from 15 countries, including H.E. Ambassador Donya L. Francis of the Embassy of Saint Christopher and Nevis, H.E. Ambassador Katherine Vanessa Meighan of the Embassy of Belize, Acting Director General Vishwanjali Gaikwad of the India Taipei Association, Director Mohammed Al-Baraami of the Commercial Office of the Sultanate of Oman–Taipei, Representative Tamara Vér of the Hungarian Trade Office and Acting Representative Koh Sang-Wook of the Korean Mission in Taipei. They were joined by government representatives, including Executive Secretary Chang Chen-hao of the National Science and Technology Council, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-chi, and Senior Analyst Liu Din-lie of the Ministry of Agriculture. Their participation brought broader international perspectives and new opportunities for collaboration to the launch of this year’s call for entries.

The Presidential Hackathon International Track is a flagship international competition hosted by Taiwan, guided by the Office of the President, organized by the Executive Yuan, and executed by the Ministry of Digital Affairs. Since its launch by the Presidential Office in 2019, the competition has now entered its eighth edition. Over the past three years (2023–2025), it has attracted participation from teams representing more than 55 countries and territories. Minister Lin warmly encouraged people from all fields, regardless of age or nationality, to start with the issues they care about, harness AI applications to develop innovative proposals, and seize the opportunity to take part in this major technology event.

The deadline for submissions to the 2026 Presidential Hackathon International Track is July 31. For more information, please visit the official Presidential Hackathon International Track website (https://gov.tw/cYQ) or contact the Taipei Computer Association: Katie Chang ([email protected]) or Jessica Huang ([email protected]).