The LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship has opened applications for the CleanTech Hackathon 2026, held in collaboration with the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, and is calling on innovators, researchers, engineers, and startups to compete on the theme of renewable and alternative energy. The hackathon is built around a clear national target: Pakistan has the potential to generate at least 30 percent of its installed power capacity from solar and wind by 2030. The organizers have framed the competition around a single question to participants, asking what they could build to help the country get there. Applications close on November 8, 2026, and the hackathon itself will take place over two days on November 20 and 21, 2026.
The challenge is open to a broad range of clean energy work. Organizers are looking for solar and wind innovations, hydro, geothermal, and hydrogen energy solutions, and localized and clean power generation models, which leaves room for hardware prototypes, software tools, research projects, and early stage ventures alike. Teams are encouraged to put their prototypes, research, and companies to the test in front of judges and industry experts, with the aim of turning promising ideas into solutions that can be deployed in Pakistan. By covering both established technologies such as solar and wind and newer areas such as geothermal and hydrogen, the hackathon invites participants to think beyond the options that currently dominate the energy conversation.
The program offers three main incentives for those who take part. A prize pool of 1 million Pakistani rupees will be divided among the top three winning teams, giving the strongest entries direct financial backing. High potential startups may also be considered for fast track entry into the Idea Launch Incubation Programme run by the LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship, which gives successful teams a route into structured support after the event ends. Participants will also gain direct access to industry mentors, technical validation, and corporate networks, which can be as valuable as the prize itself for founders who need expert feedback and introductions to organizations that could adopt or fund their work.
Founders and researchers who wish to take part can apply through the registration page before the November 8 deadline, and detailed guidelines are available through the organizers. The hackathon adds to a growing set of programs in Pakistan that connect energy innovation with funding, mentorship, and market access, at a time when the country is weighing how quickly it can expand clean power generation. For teams already working on solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, hydrogen, or local power models, the two day event offers a chance to test their ideas against a national goal, win recognition, and begin a longer relationship with an incubation program and the industry that could help bring their solutions to scale.
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