Vodafone Oman, in collaboration with the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), has concluded a three-day digital innovation hackathon aimed at producing practical, deployable solutions aligned with Oman’s national digital transformation priorities. Rather than a traditional competition, the initiative focused on translating ideas into scalable use cases with real-world impact.
The hackathon brought together 121 participants from across the Sultanate, including students, early-career professionals, and technology practitioners. Multidisciplinary teams worked on challenges spanning digital government services, healthcare innovation, smart cities, cybersecurity, and digital solutions for low-income households. Participants received structured mentorship from academic experts and industry leaders to ensure ideas balanced technical feasibility, societal relevance, and scalability.
At the close of the programme, three projects were selected for further exploration and potential support. First place went to Nudhum, a smart platform that converts existing system data into actionable insights without requiring system migration. Rasid, an AI-powered real-time monitoring solution for detecting unauthorised objects in sensitive areas, secured second place. Third place was awarded to EnviroSense, an innovative indoor air-quality monitoring solution for vehicles and elevators that uses algae to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen during emergencies.
The hackathon forms part of a broader strategic partnership between Vodafone Oman and SQU focused on strengthening national digital capabilities. The collaboration includes a sponsored PhD scholarship in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, as well as joint initiatives designed to move academic research into applied solutions that benefit industry and society.
