The sixth edition of the Innovation Challenge concluded on Sunday, September 6, 2026, after three days of coding, creativity and competition, with ‘I TECH’ emerging as the Senior Category champion out of 14 registered teams, while MATT Solutions secured the top prize in the inaugural Junior Category. The premier coding competition is an annual initiative of the Office of the Prime Minister, through its Industry and Innovation Unit. The collaboration continues for the fourth year with SBM Offshore Guyana under the continuing theme, ‘Transitioning through Innovation’.
With a refreshed approach, the 2026 competition offered a structured format featuring mentor engagements, development checkpoints, research, design thinking, rapid prototyping, user testing and final presentations. For the first time in the programme’s history, a Junior Category was created for innovators aged 16 to 21, allowing younger participants to apply technology to a national development challenge and gain practical experience in collaboration and solution-building.
The closing ceremony saw I TECH securing first place and receiving a cash prize of GYD $1,500,000; LUDGE TECH placed second and received GYD $800,000, while G STACK placed third and received GYD $550,000. In the Junior Category, MATT Solutions secured first place and received GYD $500,000, while Code Lunima and Mars placed second and third, respectively, and received consolation prizes courtesy of SBM Offshore Guyana.
Speaking at the Closing ceremony, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips, who was performing the functions of President, said the Innovation Challenge forms part of the Government’s strategic approach to building human capital, encouraging entrepreneurship, strengthening Government-industry collaboration and helping Guyanese ideas become practical solutions. He also emphasised that a strong digital economy depends on both skilled people and secure systems, and reaffirmed the importance of cybersecurity, data protection, resilient infrastructure, accessibility and responsible governance.
Welcoming the introduction of the Junior Category, the Prime Minister said it establishes an earlier pathway into the national innovation ecosystem and demonstrates that young people have an important role in addressing challenges affecting their communities and country. He urged all participants to build with users in mind, consider cost, maintenance, training, security and accessibility, and continue developing their prototypes beyond the competition.
‘Think beyond this year’s competition. Your prototype may become a pilot, a start-up, a public-interest solution or a service capable of reaching regional and international markets,’ Prime Minister Phillips charged. He reaffirmed that the Government would continue investing in connectivity, skills, innovation, cybersecurity and partnerships so that Guyanese talent, regardless of geography, gender or background, can participate meaningfully in the technology-driven economy.
Meanwhile, Country General Manager of SBM Offshore Guyana, Martin Cheong, congratulated the junior and senior participants and recognised the curiosity, perseverance and teamwork demonstrated throughout the program. He said Guyana’s continued development will depend not only on new industries and investment, but also on building the national skills and technical capability needed for Guyanese to participate meaningfully in emerging opportunities.
Cheong said SBM Offshore Guyana was proud to continue its partnership with the Industry and Innovation Unit, noting that the collaboration reflects the company’s commitment to developing local capacity. “When young people are given opportunities to learn, experiment and collaborate, we help prepare the skilled professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders who will shape tomorrow’s industries,” he said. Additionally, SBM Offshore Guyana will offer entrepreneurial training to all of the participants in both the junior and senior categories. The Country Manager encouraged participants to continue building, testing and improving their ideas after the competition.
Lastly, the Director of the Industry and Innovation Unit, Sharukh Hussain, in his remarks said the Innovation Challenge has grown into a national platform where Guyanese students, graduates and workers confront real-world issues and ask, ‘What can we create to make things better?’ Hussain explained that since 2023, the partnership between OPM and SBM Offshore Guyana has provided a platform for up to 40 teams and more than 120 participants to develop software-based solutions addressing areas including education, health and safety, road safety, productivity in the oil and gas sector, environmental monitoring, sustainable growth and future workforce development.
According to Hussain, a competition may have a first-place winner, but innovation itself does not have a finish line.
The competition was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre from September 4 to 6, 2026.
