ASEAN Data Science Explorers 2026

Benefits & funding

• Eligible registrants receive access to SAP Analytics Cloud and organiser-provided enablement sessions without charge.
• The three winning teams in each national competition receive cash prizes and trophies; the organisers advertised total prizes of up to USD 28,500 for the 2026 competition.
• Each national winning team receives an all-expenses-paid trip for both members to the regional competition in Manila, covering meal allowance, shared accommodation, economy flights, and a transportation allowance under the ASEAN Foundation travel policy.
• Teams that register and submit a storyboard receive a participation certificate; shortlisted national and regional finalists receive achievement certificates.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, or Viet Nam; permanent residence alone does not qualify.
• Applicants must be aged 18–30 when the contest begins on 18 May 2026.
• Applicants must be undertaking full-time education at an institution based in one of the 11 eligible ASEAN countries, or meet the site’s fresh-graduate condition, which it describes as at least one year after degree completion.
• Applicants cannot have placed in the top three at a national final or represented their country at a regional final in a preceding year.
• Each team must have two members of the same eligible nationality, although the members may attend the same or different institutions. Both members must be able to attend the finals, and regional finalists need valid passports.

Application process

1. 1
   Confirm that both proposed team members satisfy the eligibility rules and share the same eligible ASEAN nationality.
2. 2
   Register the two-person team through the competition website during the registration period.
3. 3
   After approval and receipt of SAP Analytics Cloud access, choose an issue linked to one or more of the six selected SDGs and gather reliable data.
4. 4
   Build an original English-language data-analytics storyboard in SAP Analytics Cloud and submit the PDF through the competition website during the submission period.
5. 5
   If shortlisted, prepare presentation slides for the national final; each national winning team advances to the onsite regional competition in Manila.

Program timeline

1. Contest period begins

   May 18, 2026

2. Extended registration deadline at 23:59 GMT+7

   Aug 14, 2026

3. Onsite regional competition in Manila

   End of November 2026

4. Contest period ends at 23:59 Jakarta time

   Nov 27, 2026