Costa Rica Hosts Central America's First Quantumcomputing Hackathon: CERN Experts Meet Emergingtalent

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In a historic milestone for Latin American tech o logy, Costa Rica is set to host Central America's firstever quantum computing hackathon. The high-profile event will gather international specialists linked to CERN, representatives from the University of Costa Ric (UCR), and eighty of the country's top local developers to forge groundbreaking computing solutions aimed at pressing global crises. Scheduled to take place from July 22 to 24, 2026, the competitive exhibition will run under the title“Quantathon CR 2026: Quantum for Sustainable Development.” The initiative represents a joint venture orchestrated by the education platform Dojo Codin, CERN's Open Quantum Institute, and the UCR

Solving Real-World Challenges via Quantum Algorithms

According to the executive board, the foundational ethos of the hackathon centers on building
software architectures aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Traditional computing methodologies fall short against complex molecular modeling and multivariable climate optimizations; this is where quantum systems provide massive evolutionary leaps.
The participants will build working prototypes centered around five vital pillars:
* Clean Energy Grid Optimization: Engineering smart algorithms to distribute renewable energy smoothly across unstable grids.
* Molecular Simulation for Pharmaceuticals: Accelerating drug discovery timeframes by precisely simulating atomic interactions.
* Advanced Climate Modeling: Modeling localized weather anomalies to design precise climate adaptation strategies.
* Efficient Water Distribution: Maximizing municipal plumbing resources via smart computational networks.
* Food Security: Analyzing agricultural yields and optimizing logistics chains to prevent food waste.

Daniel Bejarano, CEO of Dojo Coding, emphasizes that quantum computing offers critical computational speedups for systemic failures that standard modern mainframes are fundamentally incapable of addressing.“Our core objective is providing native Costa Rican talent early exposure and direct access to these paradigm-shifting systems,” Bejarano noted.

Nurturing an International Innovation Ecosystem

Rather than jumping straight into complex development phases blindly, the eighty handpicked developers will complete rigorous, certified training modules in quantum fundamentals provided by QWorld-a global network spanning over a hundred countries. Once the hackathon commences, these developers will gain unparalleled access to direct mentorship from elite quantum theoretical researchers.

“This extensive immersion grants our local students a distinct competitive advantage for future technical occupations, given that specialized quantum mechanics fluency is slated to become a highly coveted skill across international tech industries,” Bejarano added.

Fernanda Arias, Head of Operations at Dojo Coding, highlighted that the event establishes a pivotal milestone for regional technical capabilities, pushing Costa Rica into the broader conversation surrounding global quantum computing infrastructure.“Every single individual we train directly
elevates our national technological tissue,” Arias stated.

Democratizing Next-Gen Infrastructure and Technical Governance

The selection of Costa Rica by the Open Quantum Institute-a body generated via cooperation between CERN and the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA)-is highly intentional. The institution actively strives to democratize quantum computational resources globally,
systematically preventing advanced tech infrastructure from concentrating exclusively within wealthy corporate ecosystems or global superpowers.
Beyond traditional coding challenges, the event features an advanced simulation known as the Quantum Diplomacy Game. Developed by GESDA and previously featured before bodies like the World Bank and UNESCO, this simulation puts participants into the high-pressure roles of diplomats,
industrial executives, and academic researchers to model critical decisions in ethical governance, data privacy, and global technology deployment.

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