In today’s fast-changing world, cultures evolve, but traditions shouldn’t be left behind. What if we could preserve cultural heritage while also reimagining it for modern times?
Enter the City DNA & Culture Re-creation Hackathon 2025, a competition that challenges young innovators to merge culture, creativity, and commercialization. Organized by Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation (CSII) in collaboration with Mahasarakham University (MSU), this hackathon builds upon the success of the ISAN Hackathon 2024 - but expands the scope to Thailand’s diverse cultural identity.
Turning Tradition into Tomorrow’s Innovation
This year’s event took the concept of City DNA - the unique identity of Thai cities - and then asked participants to develop real-world solutions that preserve, promote, and transform cultural heritage into sustainable innovations.
The hackathon followed a structured idea-to-impact framework, guiding participants through key stages:
🔹 Exploring City DNA – Understanding how cultural heritage shapes businesses, society, and governance.
🔹 Developing Ideas & Innovation – Teams blended traditional knowledge with modern technologies to create new solutions.
🔹 Learning Through Workshops & Mentorship – Experts shared insights on cultural commercialization, sustainability, and business strategies.
🔹 Bringing Ideas to Life – Participants refined their projects and pitched their solutions to a panel of judges, ensuring real-world impact.
Over 120 participants across 30 teams worked through workshops, mentoring clinics, and pitching sessions, refining their ideas and exploring pathways to commercialization.
By incorporating the Three Sustainable Development Principles - Society & Culture, Economy & Industry, and Environment & Governance - the hackathon ensured that ideas are not only creative but also practical and scalable.
Meet the Finalists: Cultural Innovation in Action
As a result of City DNA, after intense collaboration, six standout teams emerged as the finalists, each offering a unique take on cultural reinvention:
🏆 Winner: Beyond Crew – This team from Walailak University impressed judges with their forward-thinking approach to cultural sustainability.
🥈 First Runner-Up: PPB – A CSII-led team that blended business and heritage in an innovative way.
🥉 Second Runner-Up: ทัศนัยภูวดล – A Mahasarakham University team with a fresh take on cultural storytelling.
🏅 Honorable Mentions: Bubblepuff, หลานลุง, and Haha Squad—all teams that demonstrated exceptional creativity and impact.
The Bigger Picture: CSII’s Commitment to Innovation
Thai culture is woven with history, traditions, and innovation. Preserving and reimagining this cultural wealth is essential for future generations, ensuring that heritage remains a source of inspiration and progress. The City DNA & Culture Re-creation Hackathon 2025 exemplifies how universities can drive cultural innovation, bridging tradition with modern solutions. CSII is committed to fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, ensuring that research and ideas extend beyond academia to create tangible impact. This initiative would not have been possible without the invaluable collaboration with Mahasarakham University (MSU), whose dedication to cultural preservation and innovation has enriched this journey.
📸 More photos from the event can be found on CSII Facebook: City DNA & Culture Re-creation Hackathon 2025
