IN CONVERSATION WITH MR TEBOGO SESENG (MANAGER STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS AT THETECHNOLOGY INNIVATION AGENCY ( DSTI'S ENTITY)
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The G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG) Hackathon kicked off today and will run until 5 September 2025, bringing together innovators from across the globe to address disaster risk in the face of accelerating climate change.
Hosted by South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the hackathon is a flagship initiative under this year’s G20 RIWG agenda. 09:35
It forms part of the demonstrator project on *“Disaster Risk Reduction through Open Innovation (DRR-OI),”* which harnesses digital technologies, open data, and cross-border collaboration to strengthen resilience in climate-vulnerable and water-stressed regions.
The 2025 challenge focuses on forecasting informal urban expansion and its link to flood risk. By using advanced digital tools and real-world data, the hackathon serves as a testbed for scalable, evidence-based solutions that can inform policy and urban planning in rapidly growing cities.
Throughout the week, multidisciplinary teams from G20 and partner countries will design digital solutions powered by artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and geospatial analytics—all guided by principles of responsible and ethical AI. Experts from Botswana, Canada, China, Ethiopia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malawi, Nigeria, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia are among those participating.
South Africa is proudly represented by a cohort of innovators, including Dr. Charles Takalana, Deputy Director at the International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development, based at the South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town. Their participation highlights the depth of local scientific and entrepreneurial talent and ensures African urban realities are reflected in global solutions.
The event is being hosted virtually, allowing inclusive participation and real-time collaboration across time zones. Final prototypes and solution demonstrations will be presented at the G20 Research and Innovation Ministerial Meeting on 23 September 2025. These outcomes are expected to inform high-level discussions on climate adaptation, urban resilience, and the role of digital innovation in sustainable development.
By embracing open innovation, the G20 RIWG Hackathon demonstrates the power of international scientific cooperation to generate practical insights and
scalable technologies that can help communities adapt to growing environmental uncertainty.
**Key Dates:**
* **Participants model, test, and submit results:** 2–4 September 2025 * **Final judging of team submissions:** 5 September 2025 (13:00 – 16:00)
Hosted by South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the hackathon is a flagship initiative under this year’s G20 RIWG agenda. 09:35
It forms part of the demonstrator project on *“Disaster Risk Reduction through Open Innovation (DRR-OI),”* which harnesses digital technologies, open data, and cross-border collaboration to strengthen resilience in climate-vulnerable and water-stressed regions.
The 2025 challenge focuses on forecasting informal urban expansion and its link to flood risk. By using advanced digital tools and real-world data, the hackathon serves as a testbed for scalable, evidence-based solutions that can inform policy and urban planning in rapidly growing cities.
Throughout the week, multidisciplinary teams from G20 and partner countries will design digital solutions powered by artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and geospatial analytics—all guided by principles of responsible and ethical AI. Experts from Botswana, Canada, China, Ethiopia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malawi, Nigeria, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia are among those participating.
South Africa is proudly represented by a cohort of innovators, including Dr. Charles Takalana, Deputy Director at the International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development, based at the South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town. Their participation highlights the depth of local scientific and entrepreneurial talent and ensures African urban realities are reflected in global solutions.
The event is being hosted virtually, allowing inclusive participation and real-time collaboration across time zones. Final prototypes and solution demonstrations will be presented at the G20 Research and Innovation Ministerial Meeting on 23 September 2025. These outcomes are expected to inform high-level discussions on climate adaptation, urban resilience, and the role of digital innovation in sustainable development.
By embracing open innovation, the G20 RIWG Hackathon demonstrates the power of international scientific cooperation to generate practical insights and
scalable technologies that can help communities adapt to growing environmental uncertainty.
**Key Dates:**
* **Participants model, test, and submit results:** 2–4 September 2025 * **Final judging of team submissions:** 5 September 2025 (13:00 – 16:00)
