The University of Zululand will host the South African Global HackAtom on 5-6 May 2026 at its Kwadlangezwa Campus.
HackAtom is an international 24‑hour hackathon where students who study different disciplines at the same university develop practical solutions to real challenges in the nuclear and high‑tech sectors.
The organisers invite students from across South Africa to form teams and take part in this intensive marathon.
“South African students have enormous potential to shape the future of clean and reliable energy,” noted CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa Ryan Collyer.
“Global HackAtom is more than a competition – it is a launchpad for ideas and for young professionals who want to make a real impact.
“We encourage students from across the country to take this chance, form a team, and show how their skills and creativity can contribute to solving important challenges.”
During the hackathon, teams of four to five students work together, with each having his or her own distinct role – from team captains and engineers to IT specialists and presenters.
After 24 hours, they will have ten minutes to pitch their projects in English to an expert panel.
Case studies may cover topics such as low-carbon power generation, digital solutions for nuclear facilities, radiation technologies for medicine and agriculture, and modern communication tools.
The competition aims to inspire young people to apply their knowledge in engineering, IT, and data science to tackle issues related to clean energy, safety, healthcare, agriculture, and public awareness.
The Global HackAtom competition includes national stages in multiple countries across the African continent, with the final taking place in Russia in September 2026.
The winning team from South Africa will be invited to travel to Russia and compete against student teams from around the world.
For many participants, this will be an opportunity to not only advance their careers but also to join an international community of young innovators in the nuclear field.
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What opportunities does HackAtom 2026 at the University of Zululand provide for students to develop innovation skills and gain access to international competition and industry exposure?