HackMIT China

Date: March 27-29, 2026
Venue: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen)

Grades: G7-G12
Team Members: Teams of 2-5. Individual applicants will be matched into teams by the organizing committee.

About the HackMIT & HackMIT China

The MIT Hackathon (HackMIT), as one of the largest and most influential campus hackathons in the United States, has attracted over 13,000 outstanding students from around the world since its inception in 2014, with nearly 2,000 innovative projects submitted. Its academic authority and innovative impact are widely recognized by the global education community.
The China edition of the event marks the first time MIT has introduced itsauthentic hackathon system to China, open to middle and high school students in grades 7-12 worldwide. Guided by MIT’s century-old educational philosophy of "Mens et Manus" (Mind and Hand) and leveraging MIT’s top-tier academic resources in fields such as artificial intelligence and computer science, the program is academically supported by MIT scholars. Under the continuous guidance of youth mentors and technology industry experts, participants will experience a 36-hour high-intensity hackathon challenge. They will engage in innovative, practical projects across four cutting-edge fields: education, sustainable development, entertainment, and healthcare. Winning teams from the China edition will be invited to the global finals held each September on the MIT campus.

HackMIT China not only upholds MIT's rigorous academic traditions but also incorporates its unique maker culture DNA. The judging panel will evaluate each project's innovative value based on four key dimensions—innovation, technical complexity, impact, and learning & collaboration—applying dual standards of academic research and engineering practice. This experience will serve as significant academic proof for students applying to top global universities, particularly for STEM programs, laying a solid foundation for future ventures into cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, computer science, and engineering innovation.

HackMIT China not only upholds MIT's rigorous academic traditions but also incorporates its unique maker culture DNA. The judging panel will evaluate each project's innovative value based on four key dimensions—innovation, technical complexity, impact, and learning & collaboration—applying dual standards of academic research and engineering practice. This experience foundation for future ventures into cutting-edge fields such as a artificial intelligence, computer science, and engineering innovation.

HackMIT China Event Schedule

March 27 FRIDAY

19:30 ‒ 21:00

Opening Ceremony

21:00

Hacking Begins

(Start of 36 hours)

March 28 SATURDAY

All day

Hacking、

Hacking Tutorials + Workshops

March 29 SUNDAY

9:00

Hacking Ends (End of 36 hours) /

Project Submission Deadline

9:30-11:30

Judging Period

11:30-13:00

Closing Ceremony

Tracks Setup

HackMIT China is strategically focused on key future development areas, featuring four cutting-edge competition tracks. Each track is deeply integrated with MIT's leading research expertise in relevant fields, providing participants with an innovative platform that combines academic depth and real-world relevance. Each team will select one track from the four challenge tracks and develop one innovative project.The project format is flexible—it can be a website, mobile application, mini-program, or a hardware-integrated programming prototype.

Education

The EdTech track is dedicated to reshaping the future of learning. Participants are encouraged to leverage cutting-edge technologies such as

AI and virtual reality to develop innovative solutions including personalized learning systems and intelligent educational assistants. The track aims to democratize educational resources through technological means, ultimately advancing educational equity and quality.

Sustainability

This track concentrates on global environmental challenges and green

innovation. Competitors will address critical issues like carbon neutrality

and circular economy by developing practical projects such as new energy

solutions and intelligent environmental monitoring systems. Projects

must demonstrate not only technical feasibility but also consider the

environmental impact and social implications of scalable applications.

Entertainment

The Entertainment track explores the deep integration of technology and cultural creativity to develop new forms of entertainment. Using technologies like metaverse, generative AI, and computer vision, participants can create immersive narrative experiences and intelligent content generation platforms. Through technological innovation, this track seeks to redefine the boundaries of entertainment and artistic expression in the digital age.

Healthcare

Focusing on a technology-enabled future of health, this track encourages participants to develop innovative solutions including biosensors, AIpowered medical diagnostic systems, and intelligent health management platforms. Projects should balance technological innovation with clinical practicality, providing viable technological pathways to enhance healthcare efficiency and improve population health outcomes.

Signature Activities

Cutting-edge Technology Workshop Series

During the competition, five core technical workshops will be offered, led by a team of young mentors from MIT. These workshops cover a comprehensive skill set ranging from software to hardware and from beginner to advanced levels, providing inspiration and technical support to every student—from those with zero experience to those at a professional level.

Beginner Web Development

Explains fundamental syntax

Hands-on practice with responsive web layout and interactive implementation

Uses mainstream development tools to complete the construction of a basic website.

Advanced Web Development

Utilizes basic functions of the Unity game engine

Covers game scene construction and character control

Achieves game prototype development

Advanced Web Development

In-depth explanation of frontend framework principles

Hands-on practice with frontend-backend data interaction and state management

Introduces engineering development and performance optimization strategies

Beginner Mobile App Development

Based on mainstream development platforms

Covers interface design and implementation of basic functions

Completes the development of a simple mobile application

Covers interface design and implementation of basic functions

Completes the development of a simple mobile application

Beginner Game Development

Based on the Arduino open-source hardware platform

Teaches sensor applications and actuator control

Enables the development of IoT prototype devices

Academic Team

Academic TeamYoung mentors from MIT and organizing committee members will provide guidance throughout the event, including：

Kevin Zhu

MIT, Computer Science and AI major

Angelika Wang

MIT, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science major

Sanjith Udupa

MIT, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science major

Maya Roseboro

MIT, Bioengineering Major

Timothy Mathew

MIT, Computer Science major

Sarah Su

MIT, Computer Science and AI major

Spencer Pogorzelski

MIT, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science major

Application Timeline & Process

Application Timeline

Round 1 Deadline: January 20th

Teams applying in Round 1 will get an exclusive opportunity to connect face-to-face online with the MIT

Hackathon Team! Receive personalized guidance to refine your project and gain in-depth insights into the competition rules!

Round 2 Deadline: March 20th

Application Process

Step1: Scan the QR code to complete the application form

Step2: Eligibility review & spot confirmation

Step2: Participate in the offline 36-Hour Hackathon Planet!