Smart Citizen 3.0 Open Innovation Challenge

Once you are an official contender, you will be entering into a legally binding agreement with Hackster to deliver a solution based on your proposal. Contenders who receive free hardware and do not finish the challenge may be ineligible for future challenges and competitions unless the hardware is returned. If you receive free hardware and become unable to finish, please contact us at help@hackster.io and let us know as soon as possible. We may choose to arrange for the hardware to be shipped to another proposal.

General Requirements

• You must be registered as a participant for this contest.
• Your entry must be your own original work.

Hardware/Software Build Requirements

• Your project must be created using the Smart Citizen Kit
• Your project must be created using meshtastic

Project Documentation Requirements

• Your project must include a project name, short project description, cover image, bill of materials (BOM), full instructions, images, and relevant resource files (schematics, code, CAD).
• Your project must be written in English.
• Your project must be submitted by Sep 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM PT.

Your project will be judged by the Smart Citizen team on quality of contribution including functionality and documentation.

• Hardware + Contribution Recognition (3 are available)

• Fab Academy Scholarship + Maker Faire Shenzhen Showcase

Step 1: Register for the Contest

• Start by creating a free account on Hackster.io (or sign-in if already a member).
• Register for the contest by clicking “Register as a participant”.

Step 2: Build and Document Your Project

• Build your project according to the submission requirements.
• Document your project build using Hackster’s project template. To create a new project, click “create new project” on the contest page or the “+” symbol in the top right corner of your Hackster page.

Step 3: Review and submit your project

• Review your project and make sure it meets all the submission requirements.
• Upload a previously created project by clicking “add existing project” on the contest page.
• Submit your project by Sep 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM PT by clicking “review and submit project” on the contest page.

Challenges are a new type of contest. We are in the beta stage for this new feature.

Contenders will be announced by July 1, 2025. The list of contenders will be visible on the Submit a proposal tab.

Contest winners will be announced on October 6, 2025. The list of winners will be visible on the main page (Contest brief).

You are eligible to enter if you meet the following requirements at time of entry:

• You are at least 18 years of age
• You are not a resident of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria
  US export regulations prohibit the export of goods and services to the countries listed above, therefore residents of these countries are not eligible to participate in this challenge.
• You are not involved in the execution or administration of this contest.
• You are not an immediate family member or household member of a Hackster employee.

Only official contenders are able to submit solutions to this challenge. Please take your time and submit a thorough proposal in order to be considered.