Harnessing quantum for social good at 13th NYUAD Hackathon
1st May 2025

From 25-27 April 2025, the 13th annual NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) Hackathon for Social Good brought together more than 200 students and 50 mentors from across the global to collaboratively explore how quantum computing can drive solutions for global challenges and accelerate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Taking place during the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), the hackathon showcased an opportunity to highlight the transformative potential of quantum technology.
In the lead up to the hackathon, participants took part in a virtual training programme covering the fundamentals of quantum computing, delivered by experts from QWorld and NYUAD. On completion of the pre-hackathon workshops, alongside being able to participate in the hackathon, students were also awarded a certification to add to their portfolio.
Over a busy three days, 17 teams of students worked together to develop ideas for how quantum computing could be harnessed to address real-world challenges–with ideas ranging from healthcare, climate action and sustainable energy. On 27th April, the hackathon drew to a close with the announcement of the winning team, MohituQ, made up of the following students:
- Mohammadsaleh Naghdi (Caltech University, United States)
- Mariam Mahomed (Senior, University of Business and Technology, Saudi Arabia)
- Ismael Gonzalez Valenzuela (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico)
- Abdelaziz Akeb (École Nationale supérieure d’Informatique Alger, ESI, Algeria)
- Javier Rios Urbano (Student, EPITECH – European Institute of Technology, Spain)
- Sara Ahmed (Student, American University of Sharjah, UAE)
- Visista Jayanti (Amity University Dubai, UAE)
- Hatim Rehmanjee (Student, NYU Abu Dhabi, UAE)
- Daniel Fortunato (PhD, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP), Portugal)
MohituQ aims to tackle the logistical challenges associated with placing nets to collect ocean waste. Their project explores how to optimise the placement of waste barriers using decoded quantum interferometry—a quantum algorithm that can make precise measurements using quantum particles—to model ocean waste circuits and identify intersection points to more efficiently place nets and collect waste.
Members of the winning team will receive an invitation to interview for a six-month paid fellowship at Womanium Quantum Solutions Launchpad (QSL), a scholarship to participate in the 2025 Womanium Quantum Programme, and will also receive the SC Quantum Award.
The hackathon’s closing ceremony featured insightful keynotes from leaders across the global quantum ecosystem, including representation from OQI and members within our community. A panel discussion explored the current landscape of quantum innovation—addressing the opportunities and challenges of the future technology.
In addition to supporting the hackathon, OQI also welcomed the hosts of other OQI-supported hackathons to NYUAD to share the experience of OQI’s training programme, which focuses on advancing capacity building.
OQI looks forward to collaborating with NYUAD to continue fostering international cooperation and innovation in quantum computing towards tackling real-world challenges and continue working towards a future where quantum computing is inclusive and beneficial for all.