Matrix, the Northern Ireland Science and Industry panel delivered the event as part of the NI Science Festival, bringing together students and early‑career innovators to develop solutions to current world challenges.
Robert Hill opened the event stating: “The day is about tasking participants to develop solutions inspired by Matrix NI’s foresight research, exploring how technology and data could help shape Northern Ireland’s future in 2050 and beyond”.
Following a day of intensive collaboration, pitching and presentations the winning team ‘MindLens’ was announced. Team members, Ambrish Muniraju, Yashwanth Mahesh, and Sourav Janbandu are three friends who all graduated from Queen's University with a Masters in Business Analytics.
They impressed judges with a real time visual processing system designed for AR smart glasses that helps those living with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) to manage visual sensory overload, a debilitating condition affecting up to 90% of the 42 million people who suffer concussions worldwide each year.
The MindLens solution could help support rehabilitation after a traumatic brain injury. The team are keen to transition the platform to wearable AR glasses integrated with biometric sensors.
The runners‑up award was presented to Queflex, developed by Amar Deep Shukia, Nishant Patel and Ajay Sai Kummara. Their solution aimed to eradicate shop queues through smarter digital coordination, improving efficiency, customer experience and sustainability outcomes for both retailers and shoppers.
The People’s Vote for Best Presentation was awarded to TravelKind, a solution focused on supporting tourism by identifying congestion at popular destinations and recommending optimal times to visit, helping manage visitor flow and enhance the overall tourist experience.
JudgesRebecca Walsh (Matrix), Beth McEvoy (QUB), Jill Shaw (Matrix), Brendan Lowry (Matrix) also commended the breadth and quality of ideas presented throughout the hackathon.
Jill Shaw commented: “It was inspiring to hear such enthusiastic responses to the brief, and to see excellent collaboration across the diverse teams. As judges, we had quite the challenge to select the winners and were impressed with the progress teams made in just one day”.
Each presentation demonstrated creative approaches to challenges spanning the themes of health and wellbeing, sustainability, safety, and mobility. Solutions reflected the ambition and capability of participants to address real‑world issues through innovation.
The concept behind Matrix NI, ‘Hack to the Future’ hackathon was to encourage collaboration between students, technologists, and future‑thinkers, using evidence‑based Matrix foresight research as a foundation for ideas, with the potential to influence policy, innovation and society in the years ahead.
1. Contributed
Judging panel: Rebecca Walsh, Jill Shaw, Beth McEvoy, Brendan Lowry Photo: Submitted
4. Contributed
People's Choice vote: Matthew Qua Jin Chuan, Su Jean Ng, Gail Cook Photo: Submitted