Terumo BCT Africa Hackathon 2026
Build the infrastructure behind Africa's blood supply.
Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (BCT) invites Africa's developers, software engineers, AI and data specialists, systems architects and technical problem-solvers to design and prototype a standardised, intelligent and adaptable blood-bank information system for Africa.
Apply now Applications are closed
- Final
- Friday 13 November 2026
- Format
- Hybrid: Nairobi and virtual
- Prize
- USD 5,000 for one overall winner
- Apply by
- Sunday, 25 October 2026
vein-to-vein · one systemlive data
01 · The challenge
This is not only a healthcare challenge. It is a systems-engineering challenge.
Blood services operate within complex health systems where information, infrastructure and operational processes vary between institutions, regions and countries. The challenge involves fragmented data, interoperability, variable infrastructure, security, forecasting and real-time operational decision-making.
Design and prototype the technical infrastructure needed to connect blood services through data, APIs, interoperability, responsible AI and resilient digital systems.
Model the data.
Build the integrations.
Apply AI where it creates demonstrable value.
Engineer for variable or unreliable infrastructure.
Design for interoperability, security, resilience and scale.
02 · What you will build
A working technical slice, not a finished product.
The objective is not to deliver a complete production system within three weeks, but to demonstrate technical credibility, engineering judgment and a realistic implementation pathway. Teams must be able to explain and defend the major technical decisions behind their solution, including where the architecture could fail and how it responds to real-world constraints.
Problem and user need
A clearly defined blood-bank or blood-service problem grounded in real operational, data and technical constraints.
End-to-end workflow
A proposed workflow showing users, systems, data flows, integrations and operational dependencies.
Prototype / technical sliceKey
A working technical slice demonstrating the selected priority workflow. Static screens alone are not sufficient to demonstrate technical feasibility.
System architecture
Core services and components, data models, APIs, information flows, integrations, authentication, interoperability and the proposed relationship to the African Blood Bank Information System (ABBIS) concept.
AI and data approach
A technically justified AI/data use case covering data inputs, approach or model selection, evaluation, explainability, monitoring, human oversight and fallback.
Adaptability
How the technical foundation could support configuration, localisation, interoperability and scaling across different blood banks and markets.
Implementation pathway
Technical dependencies, MVP architecture, deployment considerations and a realistic route from concept to a controlled pilot.
03 · Who should apply
Technical depth and demonstrable build capability are essential.
Open to people of African descent aged 18–35. The programme welcomes multidisciplinary capability. Apply individually or as a pre-formed team of up to five people; individual applicants may be considered for team formation or matching where appropriate.
Software engineering
Software engineers and full-stack developers.
AI and data
AI/ML specialists and data engineers.
Architecture and security
Systems architects and cybersecurity engineers.
Technical product
Technical product builders.
Health and laboratory
Participants with relevant health or laboratory expertise.
Product and design
Participants with relevant product or design expertise.
04 · The prize
USD 5,000 for one overall winner
The hackathon will recognise the overall winning solution with:
- Overall winner
- USD 5,000 cash prize
Continued engagement
The hackathon will recognise one overall winning solution with a USD 5,000 prize. In addition, the programme may create pathways for continued engagement beyond the hackathon, subject to the relevant post-hackathon review, approvals and any separate arrangements agreed with the individuals or teams concerned.
The hackathon produces concepts and prototypes. Any further development requires separate review and agreement with Terumo BCT.
05 · How it works
An indicative three-week journey.
- Launch & recruitmentPublic campaign, targeted technical-community outreach, applications and participant information.
- Screening & selectionAdministrative and technical screening, scored selection and confirmation of participants.
- Technical onboardingArchitecture briefing, challenge constraints, responsible AI/interoperability expectations and shared Q&A.
- Build periodStructured engineering, testing and prototype development; teams validate their technical approach and prepare submissions.
- Pre-showcase validationSubmission and technical validation, demonstration checks and rehearsal.
- 13 November 2026Final showcase, working technical demonstrations, judging and awards.
06 · Selection and judging
Clear criteria, scored by people.
How we select participants
Selection moves through administrative eligibility screening, technical qualification based on submitted evidence and screening responses, and an assessment of technical capability and engineering depth. Two reviewers score each application.
Relevance to the challenge and problem understanding30%
Technical or disciplinary capability25%
Quality and practicality of the proposed approach20%
African health-system relevance10%
Collaboration and team contribution10%
Availability and completion5%
How teams are judged
A five-person panel: Terumo BCT, a transfusion specialist, a technology or AI expert, a health-system representative and an independent product expert. Judges assess not only whether a solution works conceptually, but whether the team understands why the architecture works, where it can fail, how it handles real-world constraints and what would be required to operate it at scale.
Technical depth, architecture and engineering judgment20%
AI/data architecture, evaluation and reliability15%
Scalability, interoperability and adaptability15%
Other approved challenge criteria will be applied in accordance with the final judging framework.
07 · Final showcase
Friday 13 November 2026
07:30–14:00 at Strathmore University, Nairobi, with virtual participation available. Teams submit before the day, then present the problem they are addressing and a working technical demonstration. Judges question the architecture, implementation, feasibility and engineering decisions behind each solution.
- 07:30Registration and breakfast
- 08:00Opening
- 08:20The challenge briefing
- 09:00Preliminary demonstrations
- 11:10Finalists announced
- 11:20Finalist pitches
- 12:50Winner announcement
- 13:10Networking lunch
08 · The bigger picture
About ABBIS
The African Blood Bank Information System (ABBIS) is a proposed interoperable platform connecting blood centres, hospitals, laboratories, health workers and policymakers around trusted blood-service data. Ideas from this hackathon can inform how such a system works and how AI can improve it safely.
Partners
Terumo BCTHost and challenge owner
Strathmore UniversityVenue partner
09 · Questions
Frequently asked questions
Something else? Email receptiondesk.nairobi@terumobct.com or hany@talo.africa.
Who can apply?
People of African descent aged 18 to 35. There is no gender restriction. The programme welcomes multidisciplinary capability, but technical depth and demonstrable build capability are essential.
Do I need a team?
No. You can apply individually or as a pre-formed team of up to five people. Individual applicants may be considered for team formation or matching where appropriate.
When and where is the final event?
Friday 13 November 2026, 07:30–14:00, at Strathmore University, Nairobi, with virtual participation available.
Can I take part virtually?
Yes. Eligible participants who cannot attend physically may participate virtually, subject to the same technical, submission, demonstration and judging requirements communicated to all selected participants.
What do teams build?
A technically credible architecture and a working prototype or technical slice for an intelligent, adaptable blood-bank information system. Static screens alone are not sufficient. The objective is not a complete production system, but to demonstrate technical credibility, engineering judgment and a realistic implementation pathway.
Is there support?
Yes: a Terumo BCT technical briefing covering the challenge constraints, architecture expectations, responsible AI, interoperability and technical evaluation criteria, followed by a shared participant Q&A and event-day technical support.
Can we use real patient or donor data?
No. All prototypes must use synthetic or openly licensed data only.
Who owns what we build?
You do. Participants retain ownership of the intellectual property in what they build. If Terumo BCT or a programme partner wants to take a solution further, they will approach your team to agree a separate arrangement. The full wording is in the hackathon terms.
How are teams judged?
Teams present the problem they are addressing and a working technical demonstration. Judges question the architecture, implementation, feasibility and engineering decisions behind each solution.
What is the prize?
Overall winner: USD 5,000 cash prize. The hackathon will recognise one overall winning solution with a USD 5,000 prize. In addition, the programme may create pathways for continued engagement beyond the hackathon, subject to the relevant post-hackathon review, approvals and any separate arrangements agreed with the individuals or teams concerned.
10 · Apply
Apply by Sunday, 25 October, 23:59 EAT
Five short steps. It takes about ten minutes, and you can save and finish later on any device.
- Up to 50 participants will be selected
- Apply individually or as a team of up to five
- Take part in person in Nairobi or virtually
- Synthetic data only: never real patient or donor records
Applications are closed
Thank you for your interest. Follow Terumo BCT for news about the final showcase and future programmes.