About KBI

History

KBI's story began in 2017, when planning started for the first International Blockchain Olympiad in Canada and Hong Kong. Since then, it has grown through three eras: founding, pandemic, and resurrection.

Founded: 2017
First olympiad: IBCOL 2018
IDSOL since: 2020
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Multiyear, Multidimensional Ecosystem Growth.

Founding · 2017–2019

2017
IBCOL is founded
- Gabriel Chan founds the International Blockchain Olympiad (IBCOL).
- Planning for the first edition starts in September 2017 at the University of Waterloo, Canada, and City University of Hong Kong.
2018
The first IBCOL
- IBCOL 2018, the first edition, runs in Canada and Hong Kong.
- Early projects focus on blockchain uses such as decentralized finance.
2019
IBCOL goes global
- Participants join from East Asia to Europe, and projects explore cryptography.
- The finals take place at City University of Hong Kong and the InnoCentre of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks. 70% of attendees come from outside the city.
- Winners: University of Michigan (Vivica), University of San Carlos (MediSure), University of Waterloo (VaccinePlus) and Guangzhou Civil Aviation College (Aero-Knowledge Proof).

Pandemic · 2020–2022

2020
IDSOL debuts
- The International Data Science Olympiad (IDSOL) starts as an exhibition event, in a hybrid format at City University of Hong Kong, alongside IBCOL.
- IDSOL teams take on challenges in healthcare and education.
2020–2022
Both olympiads move online
- IBCOL grows in Europe and focuses on identity and verifiable credentials.
- IDSOL teams model public health problems of the pandemic.
2021
Internships begin
- An IBCOL alumnus joins an advanced blockchain development internship in Bangladesh, supervised by KBI experts, with the Fast Track Future Leaders initiative of the Bangladesh Computer Council.
- Internships have run every summer since, in Bangladesh, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and Germany.
2022
IBCOL 2022 finals
- The finals run online on 27 October 2022, hosted by crews in Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
- A Dutch team, Review Ledger, wins an SDG 10 Silver Medal.

Resurrection · since 2023

2023
DigiQuest at Hogeschool Inholland
- IBCOL 2023 runs as part of DigiQuest 2023 at Hogeschool Inholland, Amsterdam, with IDSOL as an exhibition event, a proto-ETO (Emerging Technologies Olympiads).
- The focus turns to regulated industries and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. KBI's centre of activity moves to the European Union.
2024
The first ETO
- IBCOL and IDSOL compete in the same arena for the first time officially under the ETO combined meets framework, 20–23 November 2024 in the Netherlands.
- The first Emerging Research and Tech Week (ERTW) visits ASML, TU/e and High Tech Campus Eindhoven, the Port of Rotterdam, Delft University of Technology, and the International Court of Justice.
- IDSOL 2024 features an AI tool that detects scoliosis.
2025
ETO 2025 in Hong Kong
- Secondary Olympiad Expo at Diocesan Girls' School (29 October), Tertiary Olympiad Expo at HKUST Business School (30 October) and Olympiad Symposium at Swire Blueprint, Taikoo Place (31 October).
- Participants come from more than 30 countries and territories.
- Tours visit Hong Kong and the Hetao Shenzhen–Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone.
2026
Socratic Conference at CERN
- On 16 January 2026, a dozen engineering students and alumni meet at CERN in Geneva.
2026
I2OL 2026 and the first IQCOL
- IBCOL, IDSOL, and the new International Quantum Computing Olympiad (IQCOL) run together as the International KBI Olympiads (I2OL).
- More than 300 teams from over 20 countries and territories have joined so far.
2026
ETO Eastern Conference 2026
- 10–11 October 2026 at the Canadian International School of Hong Kong.
- Secondary top three: PaveMind (IDSOL, Macao), VIGIL (IDSOL, Viet Nam), CareTrace (IBCOL, Canada).
- Post-secondary top three: LineSight (IDSOL, Bangladesh), MigaEscrow (IBCOL, Bangladesh), QazQuant (IQCOL, Kazakhstan).