The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) co-hosted the "2026 Presidential Hackathon Workshop" today (14th) at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun, who serves as the convener of the Presidential Hackathon Committee, attended the event to engage deeply with 20 shortlisted teams. They explored how each group utilizes open data and AI technology to deliver innovative solutions for Taiwan’s sustainable agricultural development, expressing hopes that public-private collaboration will turn digital innovation into a tangible force for social change.

Isabel Hou, Deputy Minister of MODA, attended the workshop as Deputy Executive Director of the Committee, supporting the teams' proposals. She noted that this year’s hackathon centers on the theme "Smart Agriculture, Safe and Sustainable," focusing on three key pillars: "Smart Governance," "Safe Society," and "Sustainable Transformation." Out of 181 entries nationwide, 20 outstanding teams were selected to participate in the hands-on workshop. Comprising members from industry, academia, research institutions, and frontline public servants, the teams demonstrate strong cross-domain collaborative synergy.

Vice President Hsiao and Vice Premier Cheng personally listened to team presentations at the event, encouraging participants to embrace the hacker spirit of freedom, innovation, and sharing, while utilizing data tools to find breakthroughs for sustainable development. Moving forward, the 20 teams will enter the final evaluation phase to showcase their hands-on achievements. The winning teams will be invited to the Presidential Office to receive awards from the President and gain support from government policy resources to implement their projects.

MODA emphasized that digital transformation and data applications are core drivers of government innovation. This year's competition particularly encourages participants to integrate a "data governance" mindset—ranging from data strategy and quality to standardization—to build a solid foundation for innovative systems. MODA is also helping match teams with the open data resources they need, while providing expert guidance and practical training to refine their proposals and significantly boost their real-world feasibility and social impact.

MODA highlighted that the 2026 Presidential Hackathon is jointly promoted by MODA and the Ministry of Agriculture. Highlights of the shortlisted proposals span diverse fields, including smart livestock farming, strengthening the social safety net, and resource circularity innovations. Examples include applying 3D body imaging to assess swine quality, using AI to help farmers quickly navigate subsidy information, repurposing retired military uniforms to achieve environmental sustainability, and developing early dementia screening and referral solutions for social safety. MODA stated that it will continue to drive digital transformation, partnering with both public and private sectors to turn digital creativity into a key engine for societal progress in Taiwan.