TCS Sustainathon Challenges Youth to Ideate and Invent Clean, Affordable Energy Solutions

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, has launched the third annual South African edition of TCS Sustainathon, the problem-solving competition that challenges the youth to develop innovative ideas to address real-world issues through technology.

TCS Sustainathon allows young people to work together with private businesses, non-profit organizations, and government bodies to develop solutions addressing sustainability challenges. This year the competition challenges students to bring forth ideas for ‘Clean and Affordable Energy’. In Africa around 600 million people, or 43% per cent of the population lack access to electricity. Coal accounted for 78.5% of South Africa’s electricity generation last year, while renewable sources contributed only 8.8%. This year’s theme aligns with the seventh goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at providing “affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy” for all.

Langa Dube, TCS Regional Director for South Africa & Rest of Africa, said “South Africa is a country with a remarkable knack for innovation. And the youth are a fundamental source of this transformative power. That’s why, through the TCS Sustainathon, we want to tap into their brilliance to help solve some of the real-life environmental issues facing the world today. We’re creating a space where they can address these problems through policy, design and innovation.”

Entries for TCS Sustainathon South Africa are open from September 20 to October 25. The challenge is open to teams of students, postgraduates, and recent graduates. Entries begin with an online proposal. Ten teams will be selected, who will then have the chance to pitch their ideas at the finale. The winning team will collect a cash prize of 35,000 ZAR, while second place will win 25,000 ZAR, and third place 15,000 ZAR, along with an opportunity to intern with TCS. In 2023, TCS Sustainathon in South Africa received over 200 registrations and more than 50 submissions from major universities such as University of Johannesburg, University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Stellenbosch University, Nelson Mandela University.

The TCS Sustainathon is a global challenge that inspires the youth to leverage digital technologies to solve social, economic and environmental problems for a sustainable future. TCS organizes the annual hackathon with partners across several sectors to provide a platform for young minds to collaborate with private companies, non-profit organisations and government agencies to co-create solutions to sustainability challenges. Recent themes for the challenge have included “Zero Hunger”, and “Sustainable Water and Sanitation Management”.

Dube, said, “We are proud to be able to help empower our country’s young people to make a difference through the TCS Sustainathon. Through this program, we also provide internship opportunities and access to TCS experts to the bright minds. Ultimately, they are the future and so, they should have a hand in how that future is created.”

Main Image: TCS