Judging Criteria

Teams' projects will be evaluated based on six criteria:

1. Creativity and Originality: The degree of originality and creativity exhibited in the solutions developed. How original, creative or unique is the idea? Is there a competitive advantage?

2. Technological Ingenuity, Data Integration and Application: The extent to which technical innovations are integrated into the solutions. The effective utilization of data and services to enhance the solutions and integration of tools and technologies for collecting, analyzing, and applying oceanic data in the final product.

3. Significance and Practicality: The potential impact and practical usefulness of the proposed solutions with Maldivian context in relation to the challenges selected.

4. Product Validation: This criterion assesses the extent to which the proposed solutions have been thoroughly tested and can consistently deliver reliable results in various scenarios.

5. Fundability & Scalability: What is the level of feasibility for this idea to attract funding? Does it hold the potential for a sustainable business model? Can it be scaled effectively?

6. Impressive Presentation & Execution:The overall "wow" factor and impressiveness of the projects as presented by the teams. How effectively was the project executed and articulated? Did they include a demonstration video?

These criteria will guide the assessment of team projects during the ocean hackathon based on the challenge they have taken. The winner of the hackathon would be selected from among the three challenges.

Rules of the Hackathon

1. In-Person Event:Teams must be physically present at the venue to participate and compete.

2. Eligibility:Both local and international teams are welcome to participate above the age group of 18 years and below 55 years of age.

3. Team Size Limit:Registration is limited to teams consisting of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 members. Individual participation is not permitted.

4. Participation Cap:A total of 10 teams (comprising 50 individuals) will be chosen to compete in the hackathon.

5. Participation Confirmation:A Teams must complete their registration and submit their idea for evaluation by a panel from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology. Teams would be informed of their selection or rejection via email and only the selected teams will have the opportunity to take part in the event.

6. Registration Fee:The registration itself is free of charge. However, for teams that successfully qualify to participate in the hackathon following the evaluation of their project ideas, a refundable security deposit of MVR 1,500 will be required. This deposit will be returned to the teams during the event. Please note that if a team does not participate or attend the event, the security deposit will not be refunded.

7. Fresh Code Principle:To guarantee a fair competition for all participants, teams must only produce code during the Hackathon itself. However, they can utilize publicly accessible or open-licensed APIs, SDKs, frameworks, and other software libraries. There are no restrictions on the programming languages or software development tools used.

8. Code Evaluation:Winning teams may undergo a code review after the event or just before being declared winners. This review ensures that the code used is freshly created.

9. Ownership and Intellectual Property (IP):Teams maintain complete ownership of their creations from the event and can utilize them as they see fit.

10. Prize Distribution:Once the winning team is revealed, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology will lead the victorious teams through an incubation program geared towards nurturing and propelling the idea forward. This initiative will entail a sequence of mutually agreed-upon milestones, intricately tied to the prize, promoting a collaborative partnership between the Ministry and the winning team to ensure the prototype's triumphant evolution and market debut. The cash prize, awarded in the local currency, will be provided upon the successful attainment of these jointly defined milestones by the winning team and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology.

11. Participation Ineligibility:Individuals engaged in tasks encompassing design, development, management, strategy, or organization of the Maldives Ocean Hackathon are excluded from forming or joining any teams that take part in the hackathon.

Terms & Conditions

1. The Maldives Ocean Hackathon (referred to as the "Hackathon") is organized and hosted by The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, with Spark Hub LLP serving as the management consultancy company to facilitate and manage the event.

2. These terms and conditions govern your participation in the Maldives Ocean Hackathon Hackathon. By submitting your entry and by participating (if you are selected to do so) in the Hackathon, you agree to the following:

3. Eligibility:To enter, you must be at least 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Participation is open to anyone interested in the topic. Information on how to enter and the logistical details of the Hackathon are available on the Maldives Ocean Hackathon websites. Purpose: The Hackathon aims to stimulate participants' creativity and knowledge to generate impactful ideas with the potential to make a positive impact on the world with regards to ocean health and climate change focussing Maldives.

4. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR):All your original work is and will remain yours. You are free to use the results of the Hackathon that are your original work for any purposes. You will not hold Maldives Ocean Hackathon responsible for any other participant's or third party's use of the results of your work at Hackathon.

5. Grant of rights:Your entry and the ideas or concepts provided by you during your participation in the Hackathon may be used and reproduced by Maldives Ocean Hackathon (and its assignees) in perpetuity for any purpose whatsoever and you hereby grant Maldives Ocean Hackathon the perpetual sub-licensable right to do so exclusively, royalty-free and without limitation.

6. Maldives Ocean Hackathon and other third parties may supply and invite you to use some of its Intellectual Property rights as a Participant in the Hackathon. For the sole purpose of your participation in the Hackathon and for the duration of the Hackathon, you are granted a limited license to use and adapt the Intellectual Property rights of Maldives Ocean Hackathon made available to you by Maldives Ocean Hackathon.

7. Original Work:Your participation in the Hackathon must only concern your own original work and must not, so far as you are aware, infringe the intellectual property or any other legal or moral rights of any third party, and must not violate applicable law or refer to or portray Maldives Ocean Hackathon in a disparaging or negative manner. Participants may flag up and define pre-existing IPR if they wish. It is recommended that such pre-existing IPR be identified in a written document before disclosure at the Hackathon.

8. Independence and Similar Ideas:You acknowledge and agree that a third party may produce similar ideas or concepts during the Hackathon. You also acknowledge and agree that the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology with its mandate of the area and for innovation, may be working on similar ideas independently whether now or in the future. You agree not to make any claims or demands of any nature against the Ministry in relation to your participation in or contribution to the Hackathon.

9. Winner selection:A panel of Maldives Ocean Hackathon (or Maldives Ocean Hackathon appointed external) judges will select one or several winning ideas for most sustainable solution with best possibility for realization and any other categories as determined by Maldives Ocean Hackathon. The winning idea will be announced at the Hackathon. The winning idea will also be published on the Maldives Ocean Hackathon (and other related) websites. The decisions of Maldives Ocean Hackathon and the judges are final and binding, and may not be appealed.

10. Prize:Maldives Ocean Hackathon will announce the type of prizes before the Hackathon. Maldives Ocean Hackathon reserves the right to substitute a prize (or portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value, at its sole discretion. Each winner is responsible for the payment of taxes on the prize and for any other costs and expenses associated with the acceptance and use of a prize not specifically described above.

11. Photography and Filming:Maldives Ocean Hackathon may take photographs and film (audio and video) of the Hackathon to be used as a public record of the Hackathon or for publicity and/or promotional purposes. You can opt out!

12. Code of Conduct:As a Participant in the Hackathon you agree to comply with the code of conduct and security regulations provided by Maldives Ocean Hackathon. Maldives Ocean Hackathon reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any Participant acting in violation of the code of conduct. You agree that you will not hold Maldives Ocean Hackathon liable for any loss or damage that may occur to you or your property while at the Hackathon.

13. Dispute Resolution:In the event of a dispute arising in connection with the Hackathon or these terms and Conditions, the parties shall attempt to settle their differences in an amicable manner. In the event that any dispute cannot be settled, it shall be finally settled under the rules and regulations governing the Republic of Maldives.