Global HackAtom spreads wings to Africa

Twenty student teams from Namibia took part in a 24 hour nuclear technology challenge, with the winning team now set to compete at the Global HackAtom international finals in Russia

The national stage of the Global HackAtom student championship – a 24-hour international contest challenging participants to develop practical, innovation-driven solutions in nuclear technologies – was held in Namibia on April 4, 2026.

The event was organised by the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University) with the support of the Russian State Corporation Rosatom.

The judging panel brought together leading experts from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, the Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University named after R. E. Alekseev, and the University of Namibia (UNAM).

This year’s challenge tasked students with designing a comprehensive solution for the sustainable energy supply of southern Africa’s coastal regions – using Floating Power Units (FPUs) as a case study based on Namibia’s specific conditions.

Teams were required to evaluate the technical potential of nuclear energy, assess geological risks such as seismic activity and tsunamis, and present an economic rationale for their selected FPU design.
The competition, which includes national selection rounds in 15 countries across the world, continues to gain momentum on the African continent.

Twenty teams from across Namibia competed, with “NamHack Innovators” from the University of Namibia claiming first place. The team will now represent the country at the Global HackAtom 2026 Grand Final in Russia this September.

“For Namibia, the Global HackAtom championship is more than a competition – it’s an important platform for developing engineering thinking, research culture, and young people’s interest in cutting-edge energy technologies,” emphasised CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa Ryan Collyer.

“It’s inspiring to see universities, experts, and young professionals come together to tackle real-world challenges that contribute to sustainable development across the country and the region.”
Captain of the winning team “NamHack Innovators” Lemmy Nyambe described the experience as transformative: “Participating in the Global HackAtom has been both inspiring and invaluable. It allowed us to apply what we’ve learned in a real-world setting while strengthening our teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills under tight deadlines.

“We are honoured to represent Namibia at the finals in Russia and grateful to the organisers and partners – Rosatom, RUDN University, MEPhI, and the University of Namibia – for this opportunity.”
Russia is actively developing cooperation with international partners, with major projects underway across different regions.

In Tanzania, the company is progressing uranium exploration projects and supporting the development of the country’s future mining potential in line with international standards of safety and environmental responsibility.

Global HackAtom is an international student competition where participants are challenged to develop practical solutions for cases drawn from the nuclear industry within just 24 hours.

Now in its second edition, the project includes national selection rounds and a grand final in Russia. This year, national stages are being held in 15 countries, including Bolivia, Brazil, Hungary, Vietnam, Egypt, and others.

The winning teams from each country will advance to the global final to compete for the Global HackAtom Champion title.