Nokia Catalocity Challenge

Michele Erba

Hackathon Expert

Table of contents

• What is the Nokia Catalocity Challenge?
• Why join?
• Who can join?
• Stakeholders
• The Catalocity challenges
• Agenda
• How to participate
• Prizes
• Need more info?

1. What is the Nokia Catalocity Challenge?

Catalocity is an inspiring innovation challenge designed to ignite creativity, accelerate AI-driven ideas, and empower the American University of Sharjah’s students to build solutions that make a real difference.

Catalocity combines the words “Catalyst” and “Velocity”, sparking fresh thinking while fast-tracking ideas into impactful, real-world applications.

Created in support of the UAE’s strategic vision to become the world’s most prepared nation for Artificial Intelligence, Catalocity brings together forward-thinking minds ready to shape the future with purpose-driven innovation.

Catalocity will serve as a dynamic forum for learning, collaboration, and building meaningful AI solutions.

Participants will join interdisciplinary teams of students, developers, engineers, and researchers to tackle sustainability challenges, explore telecom-enabled innovations, and connect directly with industry leaders.

At Catalocity, bold ideas will be transformed into practical AI solutions that drive positive change, support sustainability, and align with the needs of the UAE’s rapidly evolving technology landscape.

This is your chance to innovate for good and accelerate with AI!

2. Why join?

Join Catalocity to:

• 💰Secure Funding: Win up to AED 50,000 to develop your idea and access investor connections.
• 🤖Solve Real-World Challenges: Contribute AI solutions to meaningful global issues.
• 📚Tailored Workshops for Growth: Learn from experts and industry leaders.
• 🤝Expand Your Network: Collaborate with top talent in the UAE and beyond.

3. Who can join?

The event is open only to American University of Sharjah’s students, enrolled in the following specializations:

• 🧬Chemical and biological engineering
• 💻Computer science and engineering
• 🔧Mechanical engineering
• 🔌Electrical engineering
• 🏗️Civil engineering
• 🏭Industrial engineering
• 🔩Intelligent systems and mechatronics

4. Stakeholders

The event is organized by Nokia in collaboration with the American University of Sharjah

5. The Catalocity challenges

Catalocity will invite students to form teams and take on specific challenges related to how to use AI to improve the quality of life, environment and communication!

Challenge 1 - Quality of Life powered by AI

This challenge invites participants to develop AI-powered solutions that enhance wellbeing, happiness, family life, and urban living in alignment with the UAE’s National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031.

Solutions may span predictive analytics, personalized services, chatbots, smart planning, monitoring, and more.

The teams should focus on creating platforms that can integrate with telecom providers to improve the quality of life for UAE residents.

Challenge 2 - Quality of Environment powered by AI

Challenge 2 is for teams capable of creating AI-powered solutions that reduce emissions, optimize resource use, and promote biodiversity.

Their ideas should leverage AI for monitoring, predicting, and mitigating environmental issues such as air quality, water conservation, waste management, energy efficiency, and biodiversity protection.

The final product should be platforms that can integrate with telecom providers to advance sustainability and a clean, zero-emissions future.

Challenge 3 - Quality of communication powered by AI

The “Quality of Communication” challenge invites participants to develop AI-powered solutions that enhance communication efficiency, accessibility, and inclusivity across the UAE.

Solutions may include AI for telecom optimization, 5G and IoT integration, cybersecurity, accessibility tools, language translation, and smart customer service to create platforms that can integrate with telecom providers to improve digital services and ensure inclusive, high-quality communication for all residents.

6. Agenda

Participants have until February 1, 2026, to join or establish their teams after registration.
Following the registration period, teams will participate in virtual meetings in mid-February to gain assistance and align on their ideas.
After that, the challenge will move through phases of idea development, prototyping, and testing before the evaluation round on May 1 and the final pitching and prize ceremony on May 8, 2026.

Full agenda (ALL TIMES IN GST):

• ✅Registrations and Team up phase starts! - 21 November @ 06:00
• ⭕Registrations and Team up phase ends! - 1 February @ 20:59
• 🎙️Virtual session 1 - 6 February @ 13:00
• 🎙️Virtual session 2 - 27 February @ 13:00
• ↗️Ramp up and fit phase - 27 February @ 13:01
• 🚩Deliverable 1 deadline - 20 March @ 10:00
• ✍️ Deep down into the idea phase - 20 March @ 10:01
• 🚩Deliverable 2 deadline - 10 April @ 10:00
• 🛠️Prototype and 📊Test phase - 10 April @ 10:01
• 🚩Deliverable 3 & 4 deadline - 1 May @ 10:00
• 🧑‍⚖️1st Round of Evaluation starts - 1 May @ 10:01
• 🧑‍⚖️1st Round of Evaluation ends - 6 May @ 15:00
• 🎉Pitching & Award Ceremony - 8 May @ 13:00

7. How to participate

1. ⏺️Register now!: Click on the “Register” and join the event on Eventornado using your university email! REGISTER NOW
2. 🫂Team up
3. 🎙️Join the virtual sessions
4. 💜Participate in Catalocity!

8. Prizes

All five finalist teams will be awarded 5,000 AED each for their outstanding ideas and efforts.

The runner-up team will receive an additional 10,000 AED, bringing their total prize to 15,000 AED.

The winning team will be granted an extra 15,000 AED, for a total reward of 20,000 AED, recognizing their exceptional achievement in the Catalocity!

9. Need more info?

Go to the eventornado page or drop us an email at [email protected]!