Urja Khabar
Kathmandu; With the collaboration of Finnish institutions, a team of young engineers and entrepreneurs has launched a hackathon from today under the theme of bridging innovation, clean energy, and sustainability in Nepal. Marking a significant step toward channeling youth-driven innovation into Nepal’s rapidly evolving energy sector, Kathmandu is set to host JunctionX Kathmandu 2026 from May 29 to 31.
Based on the global hackathon model founded in Helsinki, this three-day premier innovation platform brings together some of Nepal’s brightest young minds, sector experts, policymakers, and academics to address real-world engineering and public policy challenges.
A core highlight of this year’s event is the Hydropower & Sustainable Energy Track, themed “Powering the Energy Decade: From Policy to Execution.” Coming at a crucial time when Nepal has ended load shedding, commenced electricity exports Inida and Bangladesh. More ahead approved investment modalities for the 1,200 MW Budhigandaki storage project, the track aligns directly with the government's ambitious goal of developing 30,000 MW of energy within a decade.
The track is uniquely structured as a three-day continuum. It kicks off with a grueling 30-Hour Hackathon Challenge, where student teams of three will work under professional mentorship to solve sector-defined technical challenges, with winners to be announced during the closing ceremony on May 31.
Simultaneously, May 31 will host high-level Expert Panel Discussions and Talk Series designed to bridge the gap between youth innovation and strategic policy. Notably, there are a important pannel discussion Urja Khabar will step in to moderate Panel 3 in Bigyan Hall, focusing on “Academia-Industry-Government Collaboration in Water and Energy,” featuring prominent insights from industry, academic, and financial experts on R&D investment, disaster resilience, and talent retention.
Other panels in Prabidhi Hall will feature key sessions on the government's priority on storage hydropower, green hydrogen prospects, and the digitalization of the energy sector, moderated by experts like NDRI’s Divas B. Basnyat and Kathmandu University’s Hari Prasad Neopane.
Complementing the panels, an exclusive Talk Series targeted at early-career professionals and graduate students will dive into critical subjects including energy mix diversification, construction challenges, green financing, basin planning, and navigating hydro careers.
By bringing together cutting-edge tech like AI, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and grid modernization with core policy updates, JunctionX Kathmandu 2026 serves as both a public policy intervention and an innovation accelerator. The event will conclude on May 31 with the final closure at Finnofest 2026, marking a milestone in preparing the next generation of engineers, analysts, and leaders to drive Nepal’s energy future.
