Smarter Sustainable World Challenge

If you are a winner, we will contact you directly via email to arrange the shipment of your prize.

Participants who receive free hardware and do not submit a project may be ineligible for future giveaways unless the hardware is returned.

If you receive free hardware and become unable to submit a project, please contact us at help@hackster.io and let us know as soon as possible. We may choose to arrange for the hardware to be shipped to another participant.

To be eligible for judging, you must meet ALL of the following requirements unless otherwise stated:

General Requirements

• You must be registered as a participant for this contest.
• Your entry must be your own original work.
• Your entry cannot have been selected as a winner in any other Hackster contest.
• Your team is no more than 5 members per entry.*

*By entering a submission to this contest on behalf of a team, you acknowledge that you are the designated representative authorized to act on behalf of your team. (See full rules below for details)

Hardware Application Requirements

Note: If you choose to submit an application for free hardware, you must meet the following requirements. If not, continue to 'Hardware/Software Build Requirements' below.

• Your hardware application must be submitted via the online application form found on the contest page’s “apply for hardware” tab.
• Your hardware application must be written in English.
• Your hardware application must use the Nordic Thingy:53.
• Your hardware application must solve a problem related to reducing our consumption of natural resources.
• Your hardware application must be submitted by Aug 16, 2022 at 11:59 PM PT.

Hardware/Software Build Requirements

• Your project must be created using the Nordic Thingy:53.
• Your project must be created using the nRF Connect SDK.
• Your project must solve a problem related to reducing our consumption of natural resources.

Project Documentation Requirements

• Your project must include a project name, short project description, cover image, bill of materials (BOM), full instructions, images, and relevant resource files (schematics, code, CAD).
• Your project must be written in English.
• Your project must be submitted by Oct 24, 2022 at 9:00 AM PT.

Your project will be judged according to the rubric below.

• Project Documentation (20 points)
  Story/Instructions - Show how you created your project, including images, screenshots, etc. Ask yourself: “If I were a beginner reading this project, would I understand how to recreate it?”
• Demo video (10 points)
  Include a video demonstration of your solution working as intended. The length of the video can be between 5 seconds and 1 minute long. Nordic reserves the right to use the video to promote the hardware after the contest is over.
• Complete BOM (10 points)
  Detail the hardware, software and/or tools used.
• Schematics (10 points)
  Draw your circuit diagrams using software like Fritzing.org and/or take detailed photographs.
• Code & Contribution (20 points)
  Include working code with helpful comments.
• Creativity (30 points)
  Your idea doesn’t have to be original, but it should be creative (a fresh take on an old idea is often worth as much as a brand new idea)

• 1st Place: Nordic surprise hardware and choose between a $2000 virtual gift card or a trip to Electronica (flight + hotel + exhibition pass + tour of Nordic booth)
• 2nd Place: Nordic surprise hardware + $500 virtual gift card
• 3rd Place: Nordic surprise hardware + $500 virtual gift card

• T-shirt, swag and surprise hardware ($100 value) (10 are available)

Step 1: Register for the Contest

• Start by creating a free account on Hackster.io (or sign-in if already a member).
• Register for the contest by clicking “Register as a participant”.

Step 2: Build and Document Your Project

• Build your project according to the submission requirements.
• Document your project build using Hackster’s project template. To create a new project, click “create new project” on the contest page or the “+” symbol in the top right corner of your Hackster page.

Step 3: Review and submit your project

• Review your project and make sure it meets all the submission requirements.
• Upload a previously created project by clicking “add existing project” on the contest page.
• Submit your project by Oct 24, 2022 at 9:00 AM PT by clicking “review and submit project” on the contest page.

Free devices winners will be announced by August 23, 2022. The list of winners will be visible on the Apply for hardware tab.

Contest winners will be announced on November 3, 2022. The list of winners will be visible on the main page (Contest brief).

You are eligible to enter if you meet the following requirements at time of entry:

• You are at least 13 years of age
  If you are 12 years or younger, you must receive a legal guardian's permission and have them complete Hackster’s contest permission form prior to submitting an entry into this contest. Send any questions to contests@hackster.io.
• You are not a resident of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria
  Norway's export regulations prohibit the export of goods and services to the countries listed above, therefore residents of these countries are not eligible to participate in this challenge.
• You are not involved in the execution or administration of this contest.
• You are not an immediate family member or household member of a Hackster employee.
• Nordic Semiconductor employees may participate, but are not eligible to win, rank, or receive prizes in this contest.

If you find your hardware not working, try these steps to reflash:

Put the Thingy:53 in Serial Recovery mode by following these instructions 

The Thingy:53 should then show up as a “Bootloader Thingy:53” in the nRF Connect for Desktop – Programmer tool.