The University of Namibia’s NamHack Innovators team has secured a spot at the Global HackAtom 2026 Grand Final after winning the national round of the international student competition on nuclear technology innovation.
The contest, held in Namibia involving 15 countries, including Brazil, Vietnam, Egypt, and Hungary, challenged participants to develop practical, innovation-driven solutions in nuclear technologies within 24 hours.
Twenty teams from across Namibia competed with NamHack Innovators.
Teams were tasked with designing comprehensive solutions for sustainable energy supply of southern Africa’s coastal regions, using floating power units as a case study based on Namibia’s specific conditions.
The Namibian round was organised by the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, with support from Rosatom, a Russian state-owned nuclear corporation.
The team’s captain, Lemmy Nyambe, describes the experience as transformative, saying: “Participating in the Global HackAtom has been inspiring and invaluable. It allowed us to apply what we’ve learned in a real-world setting while strengthening our teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills under tight deadlines.”
He adds that the team is honoured to represent the country at the finals in Russia, expressing gratitude to organisers, partners, and the University of Namibia for the opportunity.
Rosatom central and southern Africa chief executive Ryan Collyer describes the championship as not just a competition, but a platform for developing engineering thinking, research culture, and young people’s interest in cutting-edge energy technologies.
“It is inspiring to see universities, experts, and young professionals come together to tackle real-world challenges that contribute to sustainable development across the country and the region,” he says.
Winners from each national round will compete for the overall championship title in Russia in September.
Rosatom plans to expand its footprint in Namibia through uranium mining operations led by its subsidiary, Uranium One Group.
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