ASUS UGen AI League Hackathon 2026
By ASUS
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Quick Answer
Global edge AI hackathon by Taipei-based ASUS with over US$20,000 in prizes (top prize US$5,000, about ₹4.75 lakh). Stage I closed 28 October 2026; online track open worldwide.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- ASUS
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 28 October 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by ASUS. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
ASUS UGen AI League Innovation Hackathon 2026 is a global AI hackathon run by ASUSTeK Computer Inc., the Taipei-based hardware maker, with Intel and Hailo as co-organisers. The prize pool exceeds US$20,000, with a top prize of US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh). Developers worldwide could join through a fully remote Global Online Track. Stage I proposals closed on 28 October 2026 at 17:00 Taiwan time, the 20 shortlisted teams were due to be announced on 2 November 2026, and the finals are on 19 December 2026, so this page is now a guide to how the hackathon works rather than an open call. The pages we read name no date for a future edition.
What the program offers
Prizes are paid in each of two "Battlefields". In Battlefield Lightning, built around the ASUS UGen300 AI accelerator, the Champion receives US$4,500 (about ₹4.28 lakh), and the Best Innovation, Best Hardware Integration and Best Commercial Potential awards are US$1,500 (about ₹1.43 lakh) each. In Battlefield Thunderstorm, built on an Intel Arc Pro B70 platform, the Champion receives US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) and each of the other three awards is US$1,700 (about ₹1.62 lakh). Every winner also gets an ASUS Certificate of Achievement. The Global Online Track and the on-site track compete for the same awards; an on-site team that wins gets a small bonus of US$1,000 for the Champion award or US$200 for another award.
Shortlisted Lightning teams each receive an ASUS UGen300 accelerator to keep, and shortlisted Thunderstorm teams get a virtual machine from the organiser to build and test on. The money is a prize, so you give up no ownership of your company by winning.
Who can apply
The hackathon is open to university students, graduate students, developers and professionals from all fields anywhere in the world who are 18 or older. Teams have one to five members, and individuals can enter. Each person may enter only one submission. Participants need basic skills in AI model deployment and hardware and software integration, because Stage II needs hands-on or designated-environment validation.
Indian developers, student teams and small startups can take part through the online track, with no Taiwanese company needed. It does not suit teams that only have a slide idea and no ability to build, or people who cannot register in the stated window.
How to apply
Registration opened on 2 September 2026 on the competition website. Each team picks one theme (Creator AI, Workplace AI or Everyday AI), one Battlefield and one participation format. For Stage I the team submits a proposal deck of up to 20 pages, covering the scenario, tools, expected outcome, architecture and a link to GitHub documentation, plus a demo video of up to three minutes uploaded to YouTube as "Anyone with the link". Stage I did not require the designated hardware.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Judges from ASUS, Hailo and Intel shortlist ten teams per Battlefield, five from each track. Stage II runs from 6 November to 4 December 2026. Global Online Track teams send an updated deck, a demo video of up to ten minutes showing the solution running on the specified platform, and a complete GitHub repository. Results for the online track are announced on 19 December 2026, the same day as the on-site finals at ASUS Headquarters in Taipei. Scoring weights are 30 percent innovation and creativity, 35 percent commercial potential and feasibility, 25 percent practical value and 10 percent storytelling.
About ASUS
ASUSTeK Computer Inc. is a computer hardware company based in Taipei. The UGen AI League brings its edge AI accelerators together with Intel and Hailo technology.
Things to check before you apply
- The Stage I deadline has passed; nothing on the page promises a later round.
- The rules do not state whether online and on-site winners are paid in the same way, or how prizes reach winners outside Taiwan, beyond the tax rule below.
- A non-resident of Taiwan must pay a 20 percent prize withholding tax before claiming the prize, and tax liability is the participant's own, so check the effect with an adviser in India.
- Cash prizes cannot be transferred to a third party, and winners grant ASUS and its co-organisers a perpetual, royalty-free licence to use the winning work.
- Your entry must be new: not previously published, entered in another contest, exhibited or awarded.
- A practical tip: the demo video must show the solution really running on the stated platform, so budget time for Stage II setup.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
Champion prizes are US$4,500 (about ₹4.28 lakh) in Battlefield Lightning and US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) in Battlefield Thunderstorm. Best Innovation, Best Hardware Integration and Best Commercial Potential awards are US$1,500 (about ₹1.43 lakh) in Lightning and US$1,700 (about ₹1.62 lakh) in Thunderstorm. On-site winners get small extra bonuses. Shortlisted Lightning teams keep an ASUS UGen300 accelerator.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Judges from ASUS, Hailo and Intel shortlist ten teams per Battlefield (five from each track) in Stage I. Shortlisted teams build in Stage II and are scored on innovation and creativity (30 percent), commercial potential and feasibility (35 percent), practical value (25 percent) and storytelling (10 percent). Online results are announced on 19 December 2026, the day of the on-site finals.
Application Process
- 1
Register
Register on the competition website and choose a theme, Battlefield and track.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can enter the ASUS UGen AI League Hackathon?
University students, graduate students, developers and professionals from any country who are 18 or older. Teams have one to five members and individuals can enter; each person can enter only one submission.
Can Indian developers and startups enter the ASUS hackathon?
Yes. The rules say participants may come from all fields worldwide, and the Global Online Track is judged remotely with no attendance in Taipei. Nothing asks for a Taiwanese company.
How much can I win?
The prize pool exceeds US$20,000. The Champion prize is US$4,500 (about ₹4.28 lakh) in Battlefield Lightning and US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) in Battlefield Thunderstorm, and other awards are US$1,500 to US$1,700 each.
How are the prizes paid?
The rules ask winners for identity details and say cash prizes cannot be passed to a third party. A resident of Taiwan pays withholding tax of 10 percent at NT$20,010 or more, and a non-resident pays 20 percent before claiming the prize. The pages do not describe the payment method.
What was the deadline and what if it has passed?
Stage I proposals closed on 28 October 2026 at 17:00 Taiwan time after an extension. The pages name no later edition, so check the competition website.
Is it a grant or equity?
Neither. It is a prize hackathon, so winners receive cash and a certificate, and ASUS takes no shares. Winners do grant ASUS and its co-organisers a perpetual, royalty-free licence to use the winning work.
What materials did I need?
A proposal deck of up to 20 pages with a GitHub documentation link and a demo video of up to three minutes. Shortlisted teams later send a final deck, a demo video of up to ten minutes and a full GitHub repository.
Do I have to travel to Taiwan?
Not on the Global Online Track. Only the On-site Track presents in person at ASUS Headquarters in Taipei on 19 December 2026. The pages do not mention travel support.
Is it free to enter?
The rules we read mention no entry fee.
When are results announced?
The Stage I shortlist was due on 2 November 2026. Global Online Track results are announced on 19 December 2026, together with the on-site finals.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
