TCS Sustainathon Challenges Youth to Ideate and Invent Clean, Affordable Energy Solutions in South Africa

The third edition of the exciting problem-solving challenge by Tata Consultancy Services will empower students and recent graduates to collaborate with private companies, non-profit organizations, and government bodies to build solutions for real-life problems

JOHANNESBURG, September 20, 2024: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, has launched the third annual South African edition of TCS Sustainathon, the problem-solving competition that challenges the youth to develop innovative ideas to address real-world issues through technology.

TCS Sustainathon allows young people to work together with private businesses, non-profit organizations, and government bodies to develop solutions addressing sustainability challenges. This year the competition challenges students to bring forth ideas for ‘Clean and Affordable Energy’. In Africa around 600 million people, or 43% per cent of the population lack access to electricity. Coal accounted for 78.5% of South Africa’s electricity generation last year, while renewable sources contributed only 8.8%. This year’s theme aligns with the seventh goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at providing “affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy” for all.

Langa Dube, TCS Regional Director for South Africa & Rest of Africa, said “South Africa is a country with a remarkable knack for innovation. And the youth are a fundamental source of this transformative power. That’s why, through the TCS Sustainathon, we want to tap into their brilliance to help solve some of the real-life environmental issues facing the world today. We’re creating a space where they can address these problems through policy, design and innovation.”

Entries for TCS Sustainathon South Africa are open from September 20 to October 25. The challenge is open to teams of students, postgraduates, and recent graduates. Entries begin with an online proposal. Ten teams will be selected, who will then have the chance to pitch their ideas at the finale. The winning team will collect a cash prize of 335,000 ZAR, while second place will win 25,000 ZAR, and third place 15,000 ZAR, along with an opportunity to intern with TCS. Further details are available here. In 2023, TCS Sustainathon in South Africa received over 200 registrations and more than 50 submissions from major universities such as University of Johannesburg, University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Stellenbosch University, Nelson Mandela University.

The TCS Sustainathon is a global challenge that inspires the youth to leverage digital technologies to solve social, economic and environmental problems for a sustainable future. TCS organizes the annual hackathon with partners across several sectors to provide a platform for young minds to collaborate with private companies, non-profit organisations and government agencies to co-create solutions to sustainability challenges. Recent themes for the challenge have included “Zero Hunger”, and “Sustainable Water and Sanitation Management”.

Dube, said, “We are proud to be able to help empower our country’s young people to make a difference through the TCS Sustainathon. Through this program, we also provide internship opportunities and access to TCS experts to the bright minds. Ultimately, they are the future and so, they should have a hand in how that future is created.”

About Tata Consultancy Services

Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 56 years. Its consulting-led, cognitive powered, portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile™ delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development.

A part of the Tata group, India's largest multinational business group, TCS has over 601,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 55 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $29 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and is listed on the BSE and the NSE in India. TCS' proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the MSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit www.tcs.com 

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