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Zimbabwe will host the Lithium Value Chain Hackathon 2025 on 26 November at the HICC Main Auditorium in Harare, bringing together innovators from across the country to develop solutions that strengthen sustainability, transparency, and value addition in the rapidly expanding lithium sector.
Running from 08:00 to 17:00, the event is being organised by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development in partnership with UNDP Zimbabwe and is open to all innovators, including youth, startups, engineers, researchers, MSMEs, academia, and ecosystem enablers. Registration closes on 23 November.
The hackathon comes at a time when Zimbabwe is intensifying its push to become a leading player in the global lithium market. With investment flowing into new mines and increasing demand for value-added lithium products, the country is promoting a high-impact innovation agenda that encourages young entrepreneurs, tech innovators, and industry leaders to build practical and scalable solutions.
However, several gaps continue to limit the full development of the lithium value chain. These include limited local beneficiation, environmental concerns in extraction and processing, inefficiencies in traceability and ESG compliance frameworks, low participation from youth and MSMEs, infrastructure and knowledge limitations, and underexploited opportunities in recycling, circular economy models, and battery technology. There is also a growing need for digital systems to support data management, monitoring, transparency, and certification.
The hackathon aims to provide a national platform for addressing these challenges through community-driven innovation. Participants will develop ideas covering the entire lithium value chain, from upstream mining operations to downstream manufacturing, green technologies, recycling, battery innovation, and integration into global markets.
Participants will pitch their solutions on 26 November, with the winners set to be announced the following day during the AI and Innovation Week awards ceremony. Successful teams will receive milestone-based seed funding to further develop and pilot their innovations.
Organisers say the Lithium Value Chain Hackathon represents a significant step toward building a future-ready, inclusive, and sustainable lithium industry that not only boosts economic growth but also empowers young people and strengthens Zimbabwe’s competitive position in the global green minerals economy.
Participation is free and open to all; transportation and accommodation are at your own expense.
To register, click HERE
