About the Event

Developing decentralized applications powered by Bhutan's National Digital Identity: Join Us for an Inspiring Hackathon

Background

The Royal Government of Bhutan prioritized ICT to achieve the vision of becoming an Intelligent Bhutan. To this end, the government is making concerted efforts in the digital transformation of the nation. In this effort, Bhutan has pioneered the use of decentralized technology to build a National Digital Identity (NDI) using a self-sovereign identity framework that empowers every citizen with authority over their own data. Similarly, leveraging NDI for innovation is limitless, as is the use of blockchain and decentralized technology.

Therefore, in order to build a niche in decentralized technology and to encourage innovation in this field, an international hackathon is proposed to be conducted. This hackathon aims to bring together national and international startups and innovative minds to explore and develop groundbreaking solutions leveraging decentralized technology, including tapping into the opportunities of NDI. The event is tentatively scheduled from 25th-27th June 2025.

Objectives

• Explore innovative applications/solutions leveraging NDI or decentralized technologies.
• Provide a hands-on learning and development platform for technical professionals and students with guidance from global experts.
• Establish a global decentralized technology community.
• Propel Bhutan’s position globally in the decentralized identity space.
• Explore and test innovations leveraging NDI.

Theme

The event title is “Developing decentralized applications powered by Bhutan's National Digital Identity,” marking a festival environment for developers to explore, learn, network, and build innovative technology products. It is an open theme hackathon driven solely by the use of decentralized technology or NDI.

This dynamic event is designed to foster innovation and collaboration, bringing together talented developers from Bhutan and across the globe to tackle real-world challenges and build impactful solutions.

Participant Selection:

We're bringing together a diverse pool of talent through a carefully structured selection process:

For Our National Participants:

• Direct Entry: The top 3 winning teams from the national hackathon held on March 8th-10th, 2024, have earned direct entry to this prestigious event.
• Application & Interview: An additional 2 exceptional teams will be selected through a rigorous application process, followed by insightful interviews to identify promising talent.

For Our International Participants:

• Global Call for Applications: We are actively reaching out to the global developer community through announcements on our event website and by collaborating with our valued international partners and agencies.
• Competitive Selection: Three outstanding international teams will be chosen through a comprehensive application and interview process.
• Sponsored Participation: We are proud to offer sponsorship to the 3 selected international teams, enabling their participation in this exciting opportunity.

Pre-Event Program: Setting the Stage for Success

To ensure all participants are well-prepared and equipped for the hackathon:

• Virtual Preparation Event: One week prior to the main event, we will host a virtual session co-organized by GovTech and the Ethereum Foundation. This session will provide crucial insights and guidance to help teams strategize and prepare.

Hackathon Program: Building the Future, Together

The core of the event will be an intensive 3-day hackathon. The final day will culminate in teams presenting their developed Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) to a panel of esteemed judges, guests, and fellow participants.

Post-Event Program: Nurturing Growth and Community

Our commitment extends beyond the hackathon days:

• Consultative Sessions for Continuity: To ensure the momentum continues, we will organize consultative sessions with participants to explore pathways for post-event engagement and development.
• Vibrant Community Building: We are dedicated to establishing a robust communication and update mechanism, particularly with the winning teams, to track their impact and foster a thriving community of innovators in Bhutan.