The AIDC-EC is Set To Launch The First Edition Of The Automotive & eMobility Hackathon
- AIDC Eastern Cape
- Jun 3
- 2 min read
The Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape (AIDC-EC) is set to host the inaugural AIDC-EC Automotive and eMobility Hackathon, a catalytic platform uniting Eastern Cape business, undergraduates and SMME private sector participants. Opened to individual participants or teams residing in the Eastern Cape - 18 years old and above, with varied skills set from Engineering, Public Relations, Research, Business, technicians and innovators for cutting-edge design solutions to real - business challenges in the automotive and mobility sectors.
To be hosted at the iconic Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa on 1 – 3 August 2025, this high-impact, experience-driven initiative kicks off a weekend of collaboration, coding, and concept development - all in direct response to the priorities of the Eastern Cape Automotive Masterplan 2025-2035.
“Designed for homegrown problem solvers - this Hackathon is more than a competition. It is a provincial pipeline for transformation, skills development, and innovation in the automotive sector to further advance it towards the goals of the South African Automotive Masterplan 2035,” said Mr. Rowan Govender, Chairperson: ICT Governance Steering Committee at AIDC-EC.
Over the course of the Hackathon, participants will be required to work in diverse teams to solve key issues aligned with the automotive industry’s digital transition and green evolution. From prototyping to problem-solving, teams will be challenged to produce feasible and scalable, hardware or software-driven innovations designed to strengthen localisation, productivity, and competitiveness in the Eastern Cape’s automotive and eMobility landscape.
As a key differentiator, the Hackathon introduces an immersive “Capture the Flag” (CTF) Challenge, allowing partners to enable sand-box style courses for injecting a practical edge to the innovation process and reinforcing the event’s real-time energy. The entire experience, including behind-the-scenes content, interviews with hackers, and live insights - will be shared on AIDC-EC’s digital platforms to extend the experience to broader audiences.
Why This Matters:
Skills Development & Exposure: The Hackathon provides a launchpad for emerging technical minds to build, collaborate, and innovate under pressure, while being exposed to industry mentors, stakeholders, and potential funders.
Industry Relevance: Solutions developed will speak directly to the Eastern Cape’s automotive and mobility realities, from EV infrastructure to localised automotive components design.
Post-Hack Impact: Winning solutions may qualify for support in the form of partnerships, or further development, ensuring the event’s impact goes beyond the final pitch.
“AIDC-EC is proud to activate this platform as part of our broader commitment to building a future-fit automotive sector in the province, we are not just hosting an event - we are launching a movement” Mr. Rowan Govender further said.
Read about the AIDC Eastern Cape Automotive and eMobility Hackathon
コメント