INJAZ Bahrain, in partnership with the Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK), successfully hosted the BBK FinSec Knights Hackathon, an intensive three-day event focused on addressing cybersecurity challenges in the financial sector. Held at HQ by Hope Fund, Seef Mall, the event gathered university students specializing in cybersecurity, computer science, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and networking.
The hackathon invited teams of five to participate in a dynamic, full-day challenge aimed at fostering innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Throughout the event, students attended expert-led workshops, explored emerging cybersecurity trends, and visited a BBK branch to gain insights into the bank’s operations, services, and career pathways.
As a key networking platform, the event connected students with industry leaders and fellow innovators, enhancing their hands-on learning experience. In recognition of exceptional solutions, financial prizes were awarded to the first-place winners from the University of Bahrain (Team 2 and Team 5) and second-place winners from the Arab Open University (Team 1) and Bahrain Polytechnic (Team 2).
The closing ceremony, attended by VIP guests such as H.E. Shaikh Abdulla bin Mohamed bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa, Deputy CEO for Cyber Operations at the National Cyber Security Center, and Ms. Mashael Al Qutami, Acting Secretary General of the Isa bin Salman Education Charitable Trust, celebrated the students’ contributions to enhancing cybersecurity resilience within the banking sector.
H.H. Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairperson of INJAZ Bahrain, expressed her pride in the event, stating, “At INJAZ Bahrain, we believe in experiential learning to prepare youth for tomorrow’s workforce. This hackathon equips students with both technical skills and the creativity to drive real impact in cybersecurity.”
Mr. Yaser Alsharifi, BBK Group Chief Executive, emphasized the importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital landscape, stating, “BBK is proud to support this initiative, which helps prepare the next generation of talent with the skills needed to navigate and protect the evolving financial sector.”
The BBK FinSec Knights Hackathon highlights the power of industry-academic collaborations, bridging the gap between education and industry while empowering young innovators to shape the future of cybersecurity.
