Empowering sustainability and innovation: Highlights from the inaugural NUS Enterprise Sustainability Challenge
How can we make mental health services more inclusive and accessible, while focusing on early intervention, community support and destigmatisation? How can businesses in the built environment sector decarbonise through energy-efficient technologies to meet global sustainability goals?
These were some of the pressing challenges tackled by NUS students during the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Open Hack @ NUS 2024, one of the key events at the inaugural NUS Enterprise Sustainability (E-SUS) Challenge. Organised by NUS Enterprise teams from BLOCK71 and Innovation with Societal Impact in collaboration with partners such as NUS Sustainability and the Office of Student Affairs, the NUS E-SUS Challenge encouraged NUS students to address social and environmental challenges through innovation and entrepreneurship.
SDG Open Hack @ NUS 2024
Held as part of NUS Sustainability CONNECT Week, SDG Open Hack @ NUS was the campus edition of the SDG Open Hack Singapore, a global series of student hackathons endorsed by the United Nations and organised in partnership with the Global Green Economic Foundation.
The 24-hour hackathon attracted more than 50 teams and over 300 NUS students, making this the highest participation among Institutes of Higher Learning and the largest turnout for NUS-hosted student hackathons. Winners from campus editions competed in the SDG Open Hack Singapore finals and three NUS teams advanced to the finals, with one team emerging as the first runner-up of the hackathon.
Team N-House, comprising Year 5 Computer Science undergraduate Eugene Chia, Year 4 Business undergraduate Raphael Chew, Year 4 Information Systems undergraduate Glenn Quah, Year 2 Business undergraduate Harry Wu, and Year 2 Environmental Engineering undergraduate Wan Baicen, were the winners of the NUS campus edition. All were residents of NUS ENterprise House (N-House), where they met and formed a team for the hackathon. The team’s winning proposal was EcoVolt, an innovative energy efficiency solution that reduces power consumption and emissions in buildings by intelligently managing and optimising plug load.
Sharing about his experience, Eugene, Co-Founder of EcoVolt said, “The SDG Open Hack @ NUS 2024 was a truly heartening, impactful, and eye-opening experience for the EcoVolt team. The impeccable curation of speakers, mentors, and judges, coupled with unwavering support from Singapore’s social impact community, was on full display throughout the event. We were especially inspired by our passionate peers, who like us, dedicated their weekend to hacking for the SDGs. With continued and growing support, we will undoubtedly shape a future that champions inclusive innovation, drives sustainable growth, and empowers communities for generations to come.”
NUS Student Innovation Carnival
The inaugural NUS Student Innovation Carnival was held during the NUS E-SUS Challenge, which attracted over 500 NUS students. The winning teams from the SDG Open Hack @ NUS were invited to showcase their ideas at the carnival, alongside innovative projects from across the university.
Students also participated in an interactive scavenger hunt where they were introduced to the entrepreneurial resources and support services available at NUS. Adding to the excitement, student entrepreneurs took the stage during the open mic sessions to pitch their ideas, creating a vibrant platform to foster creativity and collaborations.
Impact x Innovation Immersion Programme to Vietnam
As part of the Impact x Innovation Immersion Programme, about 30 NUS students, including some who participated in the SDG Open Hack @ NUS 2024, travelled to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to explore business opportunities and gain insights into the local business culture. Following its successful debut in 2023, the programme returned for its second year in 2024, providing participants with hands-on learning experience.
During their eight-day trip, students had the opportunity to interact with peers from various Vietnamese universities and visit start-up incubation centres. They also engaged with start-up founders to understand the challenges and opportunities in Vietnam’s start-up ecosystem.
Armed with new knowledge and perspectives, the students refined their business ideas to better tailor them to the Vietnamese market. Their efforts culminated at the Singapore-Vietnam Youth Innovation Summit in Vietnam, a vibrant event designed to connect young changemakers, impact-driven entrepreneurs and industry leaders from Singapore and Vietnam.
On top of being able to exchange ideas and explore impactful collaborations, NUS students pitched their ideas on stage to a panel of judges. Among the standout pitches was Digi-Up!, a start-up offering gamified solutions to help seniors learn and adapt to modern technology. Another notable start-up pitch came from Village Ventures, a global immersion company that supports rural communities by helping them raise funds and connect with social impact organisations to receive the support they need.
“The Impact x Innovation Immersion Programme offered us the opportunity to learn about various aspects of entrepreneurship in Vietnam, from start-up ecosystems to local business practices, and how these are shaped by the unique cultural and economic landscape. It became clear that successful businesses are those that adapt to their community’s specific needs. This programme offers a unique chance to dive deep into how diverse entrepreneurial landscapes operate, making it a must for anyone eager to expand their global perspective on business,” said Ms Sruti Mulupuri, a Year 1 Business undergraduate who is also the Co-Founder of Digi-Up!.
By NUS Enterprise
