The annual challenge, co-organized by Google and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), brought together student-led innovations from across the Asia-Pacific region.
This year’s competition was held during the 2025 APAC Digital Transformation Forum in Manila last June and highlighted the use of Google AI tools to tackle global issues including healthcare, sustainability, trade, and tourism.
Team members Josh Gorospe, Joaquin Galang, Eisha Janel Tablante Alva, and Angelica Mae Tadique created a system that helps monitor and optimize waste management practices using artificial intelligence. Their project earned them the People’s Choice title and a $1,000 cash prize.
“It’s one thing to talk about the potential of AI. It’s another thing entirely to witness it in the hands of brilliant, passionate students who are using it not to chase trends, but to heal our planet,” said Sapna Chadha, VP for Google Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier, in a congratulatory post.
Antonio García Zaballos, director of ADB’s Digital Sector Office, praised the initiative: “We are seeing the future of sustainable digital transformation in the Asia Pacific region. The students’ energy and creativity were truly inspiring.”
Other standout projects included South Korea’s Atempo, which won the Most Societal Impact Award for its AI emergency room matching system, and GeoGemma, which received the Best AI Use Case Award. Additional finalists hailed from Pakistan, Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan.
The APAC Solution Challenge underscores the role of youth-driven innovation in solving real-world problems and advancing the region’s digital transformation. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
