AI/ML Hackathon

The AI/ML Hackathon was more than a competition, it was a space for emerging tech talent across MENA to collaborate, build, and connect across borders.

Co-organized by Microsoft, SocialTech Lab, and FINOMENA, it brought together 25 participants from different countries, including students from An-Najah and Birzeit. Hosted at The Base by CyprusInno in Nicosia, the experience combined technical depth with real-world problem solving.

Over several days, teams worked on ideation, hands-on AI/ML development, and refining their ideas with mentorship and industry insights. The journey ended with final pitches, where solutions were evaluated across business, social impact, and technical depth.

Winning ideas included an AI-powered sound recognition solution focused on accessibility.

Beyond the results, the hackathon created lasting impact, cross-border collaboration, stronger participation of women in AI, and real connections between academia and industry.

At its core, it showed what’s possible when regional talent is given the space and support to grow.