- Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct is partnering with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
- This Hackathon will see a total of 30 students competing, with 15 from SA and 15 from the Netherlands.
- It will focus on solving problems that “could change the narrative of municipalities in South Africa.”
Wits University’s incubation hub, the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, has announced an upcoming Digital Twin Hackathon in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Entries are currently open, with the Hackathon set to last for five days starting on 7th November. There are 30 spots available for entries, but this is essentially halved for those in SA with space for 15 local students earmarked by organisers. The other 15 places are for students from the Netherlands.
“The Digital Twin Hackathon holds the potential to benefit policy-making for the City of Johannesburg. 30 university students hold the power to combine their diverse experiences to solve problems that could change the narrative of municipalities in South Africa. The goal is to transform their hypotheses into theories and, ultimately, action,” explains the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in a press release sent to Hypertext.
“Globally, the use of digital twins to modernise cities is becoming more well-adopted. Essentially, through the use of technology, real-world systems can be created and run in a sophisticated manner to gain insights more cost-effectively. Governments and city planners can use these systems to track, manage and solve problems before putting them in action,” added Carol Jaji, Tshimologong Digital Skills manager.
The organisers also note that Digital Twin modelling has proved quite successful in Dutch cities like Rotterdam, where it was implemented in November 2021 to better assess the impact of digital solutions. The hope is that the Hackathon can foster greater conversations and increased implementation of Digital Twin projects in SA too.
Students interested in applying for the Hackathon can do so by filling out a Google Form here.
