Deadline: 30 June, 2020
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered with the hacking community site, Hackster.io, to launch the Covid-19 Detect and Protect Challenge, aiming to bring hardware and software developers, product developers, product designers, scientists, hackers, makers, innovators and inventors together to work for those who will be hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Along with the UNDP and Hackster.io are 12 major technology companies, including Microsoft, Google, and NVIDIA, that have signed on to provide sponsorship, prizes, hardware, and design support to the ten eventual winners.
It is unknown where the winning projects will be deployed, but the language on the challenge’s website, coupled with the UNDP’s mission, suggest that the detection and prevention innovations will go to countries considered underdeveloped, or most in need of aid.
The challenge is designed to create products, either physical or digital, that meet its three priority actions: design replicable, low-cost tools to aid in Covid-19 detection; flatten the curve in communities with preventive solutions; and, reduce the disease’s impact on economies of these vulnerable areas.
Adam Benzion, co-founder of Hackster.io, said that the challenge will capitalise on the skills and capabilities of Hackster.io developers and partners to bring forward some truly unique solutions that could make a real impact on the global fight against Covid-19.
Benefits
- The ten winning projects will receive a Global UNDP Innovator Award, which includes a recognition badge and certificate, a $1,000 Visa gift card, and a drone kit
Eligibility
- Applicants must be no less than 13 years old to enter the contest
- Applicants must not be involved in the execution or administration of this contest
- Applicants must not be an immediate family member or household member of a Hackster employee
- Applicants must be registered as a participant for this contest
- Entry must be applicant’s own original work
- Entry cannot have been selected as a winner in any other Hackster contest
- Teams can be of any size
- Project must be an easy-to-replicate, low-cost open-source solution to detect or protect against Covid-19 in developing countries
To apply and for more information, click here.
Photo source: Hackster
