Assistant Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Sponsors Closing Ceremony of "Innovation for Change Towards the Better" Hackathon Initiative

His Excellency the Assistant Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Shared Services, Mr. Ismail bin Saeed Al-Ghamdi, sponsored the closing ceremony of the "Innovation for Change Towards the Better" hackathon initiative today, Sunday, September 15, 2024. The event was organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in partnership with Devoteam Saudi Arabia and held at the Hilton Hotel in Riyadh.

During the ceremony, His Excellency emphasized HRSD’s ongoing commitment to promoting business growth in the field of digital transformation and enhancing services for all beneficiaries. He noted that this initiative reflects HRSD’s dedication to supporting and encouraging Saudis—particularly university graduates, students, and job seekers—to be creative and innovative in providing digital solutions that contribute to developing HRSD’s digital infrastructure. This initiative, he added, aims to create a unique and exceptional experience for beneficiaries, and he praised the efforts and digital solutions presented by young men and women throughout the stages of the hackathon.  

The ceremony featured presentations from the five teams that made it to the final stage of the hackathon. These teams showcased their solutions to the jury, which then selected the three winning teams. The first-place prize of 50,000 riyals, along with a three-month training opportunity and a full-time employment offer with Devoteam, was awarded to Lubna Al-Ajlan. The second-place prize of 30,000 riyals, also accompanied by a three-month training opportunity and full-time employment, went to Noura Al-Quwaifli. Third place, with a prize of 10,000 riyals, a three-month training opportunity, and full-time employment with Devoteam, was shared by Ghada Al-Salmi and Sarah Al-Juhani.

The initiative unfolded in three main stages. The first stage was the hackathon itself, featuring various digital challenges posed by HRSD, with 1000 teams participating. During this phase, all team submissions were reviewed and evaluated, leading to the selection of the most promising entries, which were then assessed by a panel of experts for their feasibility and potential for implementation. The second stage involved comprehensive workshops for the participating teams, focusing on innovation and aimed at refining and enhancing their proposed solutions. In the third and final stage, the shortlisted initiatives were presented, and the top three digital innovations were chosen.

It is worth noting that through this initiative, HRSD aimed to foster technology and innovation in the Kingdom, provide an optimal environment for talent development, and enhance the role of national talent in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship.

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