ThinkCity 2026 – Smart City One-Day Hackathon
Bellevue College · City of Bellevue · Universities in South Korea
Bellevue College, the City of Bellevue, and university partners in South Korea invite students, faculty, industry mentors, and civic leaders to participate in ThinkCity 2026, a global Smart City Civic Innovation Challenge.
About the Event
ThinkCity is a one-day civic innovation challenge that brings together high school and college students from Washington State and South Korea to design solutions for real community challenges, strengthening the region’s leadership in smart city innovation, technology, and global collaboration.
This event coincides with the visit of 60 Korean university students participating in a two-week visit at Bellevue College, offering a rare opportunity for cross-cultural teamwork and global collaboration.
Event Details
- Date: January 10th, 2026
- Time: 8:30am-7:00pm (exact time forthcoming)
- Location: Bellevue College
- Website: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/cs/thinkcity/
- Participants: College & high school students, global visitors, industry professionals, faculty mentors, civic leaders
Our Goals
- Engage Washington State and international students in civic problem-solving
- Strengthen collaboration among Bellevue College, City of Bellevue, global universities, and industry
- Provide hands-on experience in design thinking, innovation, AI, sustainability, mobility, and public impact
- Elevate Bellevue’s role as a regional hub for smart city innovation
- Pilot an event capable of growing into an annual statewide civic hackathon
Challenge Themes
Participants will form teams and tackle real community challenges aligned with Bellevue’s priority Smart City initiatives:
- Smart Mobility & Transportation
- Energy Efficiency & Sustainability
- Public Safety & Community Well-Being
- Digital Equity & Accessibility
- Citizen Engagement & Communication Tools
- Data-Driven Government Services
- Emergency Preparedness & Resilience
- Environmental Monitoring (air, water, green spaces)
- Smart Infrastructure (IoT, sensors, 5G, edge tech)
- AI for Public Services
- Housing & Urban Planning Technology
- Parks, Recreation & Community Spaces
- Inclusive Future Cities (youth, seniors, vulnerable communities)
- Open Data & Transparency
Note: Final themes may be adjusted based on mentor availability. Each team will pitch an innovative solution—technical or non-technical—aimed at improving the lives of people in our communities
Agenda Overview
Sample schedule (to be updated):
- 8:30 – 9:00 AM: Check-In & Networking Breakfast
- 9:00 – 9:30 AM: Opening & Challenge Reveal & Team Formation
- 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Work Session 1 – Ideation & Early Prototyping
- 12:30 – 1:15 PM: Lunch & Guest Talk
- 1:15 – 3:15 PM: Work Session 2 – Prototype & Refine
- 3:15 – 3:30 PM: Break & Project Summary Submission
- 5:00 – 6:00 PM: Judging & Team Showcases
- 6:00 – 7:00 PM: Dinner, Awards & Closing Ceremony
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Do I need to know how to code?
No. ThinkCity is an ideation hackathon, focused on creativity and problem-solving. - Can faculty or staff participate?
Yes! Faculty facilitators and mentors are essential roles. - Are high school students welcome?
Yes—senior high school students will participate. - Will teams be mixed between US and Korean students?
Yes, to foster global collaboration and cultural exchange.
Submit and Rubric
Contact Event Co-Leads:
- Fatma Cemile Serçe, Computer Science, fatma.serce@bellevuecollege.edu
- Frank Lee, Engineering, frank.lee@bellevuecollege.edu
Bellevue College Computer Science • (425) 564-2744 • cs@bellevuecollege.edu • Latest Blog: STEM Magazine • Instagram • LinkedIn
Last Updated January 31, 2026