UCD Student Team Wins Second Place at Global Sustainability Hackathon at Notre Dame University, USA
- Date: Thu, Apr 10, 2025
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Nithiish Vijayadevareddy Kumar, a student in the MSc Digital Innovation programme at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School represented Ireland at the prestigious Tri-Continental Sustainability Competition at Notre Dame University, Indiana, USA, on 21st March 2025. Competing against global peers, Nithiish and his UCD teammates secured an impressive second place, with first place going to Kenya and third to the USA.
The UCD team of five students designed Nutribot, an innovative nutrition-focused app that delivers tailored meal options to users—specifically targeting those at risk of anaemia. By blending smart technology with a human-centred approach, Nutribot addresses a pressing health concern while contributing to the broader global agenda of sustainable development and food security.
This hackathon marks the first competition in a three-year international collaboration between the University of Notre Dame (USA), University College Dublin (Ireland), and Strathmore University (Kenya). The initiative is rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), and this year's theme spotlighted Food Sustainability.
Each partner university selects two teams to participate and pitch their most impactful ideas and innovations. With $2,000 in prize money up for grabs, the competition is designed to elevate student-led solutions that make a tangible difference in communities around the world.
Professor Gianluca Miscione, Academic Director of the MSc in Digital Innovation, congratulated the students on their achievement. "This is a fantastic result and a proud moment for the MSc Digital Innovation community. The team’s success at an international level highlights their creativity, commitment, and the real-world impact of digital solutions. We’re thrilled to see our students making a meaningful contribution to global challenges like food sustainability and public health."
Open to all attendees, the Tri-Continental Hackathon is not only a platform for innovation, but also a celebration of global collaboration, youth leadership, and sustainability in action.
Congratulations to Nithiish and the UCD team for their inspiring work and for representing Ireland on the global stage with such distinction.
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