The Future Takes the Stage: CHI Innovation Challenge 2026 Finals
After an exciting first round, the top 13 teams advanced to the second round of the CHI Innovation Challenge 2026. This year’s theme, “AI for Hydrogen and Decarbonisation,” challenged participants to explore how artificial intelligence can accelerate the transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
The second round consisted of two parts. First, each team created an infographic exploring a topic related to this year’s theme, which was then featured on our Instagram to share their ideas with the public. Participants spent a week engaging their communities through public voting before returning for the Final Showcase. We were truly impressed by both the creativity and depth of the submissions. From AI-powered catalyst discovery and digital twins to hydrogen transportation, infrastructure, and smart energy management, teams explored a wide range of ideas while presenting them through detective case files, comic strips, newspaper layouts, app concepts, and many other imaginative designs. You can still explore all of the entries on @chi_at_nus today!
The teams then returned to the National University of Singapore on 28 June 2026 for the Final Showcase. To kick off the afternoon, the CHI team presented a specially curated video juxtaposing excerpts from Ronny Chieng’s Harvard Class Day Address and the 2024 Nobel Lecture by Chemistry Nobel Laureate Demis Hassabis, offering two contrasting perspectives on the future of artificial intelligence and setting the tone for an afternoon of thoughtful discussion. We were honoured to have Prof Saif A. Khan, Head of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NUS; Mr Eugene Kwok, Director of the Low Carbon Energies Division at the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Executive Director of the Advanced Energy and Decarbonisation Office; and Assoc Prof He Qian from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at NUS as our judges.
Each team approached this year’s theme from a unique perspective, and we were treated to a wide variety of creative presentations, including website demos, Shark Tank-style pitches, role-play performances, popular songs with rewritten lyrics, and even a lively K-pop dance. After each presentation, participants confidently answered questions from our judges, demonstrating not only their creativity but also their ability to think critically about the opportunities and challenges of applying AI to hydrogen and decarbonisation.
Following a close deliberation by our judges, we are delighted to announce this year’s winners. Congratulations to all of our prize winners for their outstanding performances and innovative ideas!
🏆 Champion: Team Mahjong (River Valley High School)
🥈 Second Place: Team TMS (Hwa Chong Institution – College Section)
🥉 Third Place: Team Hydrogenators (Nanyang Polytechnic) and Team HydroPuffGirls (Raffles Girls’ School – Secondary)
🏫 Best School Prize: Nanyang Polytechnic
👏 Audience Choice Prize: Team Triple-A Battery (Singapore Polytechnic)
We would also like to congratulate every participant for embracing this challenge with curiosity, creativity, and determination. Your passion and innovative thinking truly embodied the spirit of the CHI Innovation Challenge.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to our judges, teachers, mentors, volunteers, and everyone who contributed to making this year’s competition a success. We hope the CHI Innovation Challenge has inspired even more young minds to explore the exciting possibilities at the intersection of AI, hydrogen, and decarbonisation. We look forward to seeing how these ideas continue to grow beyond the competition!