Theme: “Unlocking Society – returning to the new normal”
During the online hackathon we want to think ahead, the time when the state of public healthcare emergency is overcome. Will we be returning to normal and carry on? What challenges are waiting for our society, and how can individuals return to the new normal world? ….
Reality has a funny way of correcting itself and we currently find ourselves in the middle of a major, global crisis - but it is still our collective reality. Governments, institutions, business, and society are all, unilaterally and unquestionably, going to change as a result of the coronavirus crisis. While it appears that chaos and entropy are defining the world today, yesterday, and in the near future, certain groups of innovators, entrepreneurs, and intellectuals are taking the initiative to build a new normalcy. The funny thing about crises is that while they may bring global commerce to a standstill, they also have the power to mobilize people who know that they arent powerless to take action – NOW! On May 11, 12, and 13 the Brightlands Smart Services Campus, Corda Campus Hasselt, and DigitalHUB Aachen call upon the brave and idealistic of the Euregio to participate in a hackathon and contribute their time, energy, and enthusiasm to finding solutions to four specific problems brought about by the coronavirus. It is time for the Eurgio to join the fight against corona-caused entropy!
Challenge #1: Becoming Human Again
How might we use existing tech solutions to help society again interact in a healthy manner? How can we use this technology to get people back into the office? How might these solutions be extended to medical professionals, as well as their families? Challenge Owners: Brightlands Smart Services Campus Ecosystem, Corda Campus Hasselt, DigitalHub Aachen e.V.Challenge #2: Optimizing Foot Traffic in an Office
What non-digital solutions are there to optimizing built environments like offices for minimizing the likelihood of infection – from an employee parking her car to driving away at the end of the day? Digital tools and illustrations are encouraged for this physical-world challenge. Challenge Owners: The Student Hotel, TSH Collab, Customer Service Valley, Dela, and MedtronicChallenge #3: 1.5 Meters as a Service
With the COVID crisis social distancing is more becoming increasingly important. This also holds for organisations in the chemical industries. The safety concerns in the chemical industry are many. Certain activities can be crucial for the safety of the plant and need to be executed somehow. In the meanwhile it is paramount that the engineers and mechanics who do the maintenance remain in excellent health. A fall-out of this particular niche of the workforce can have catastrophic effects on the condition, integrity and therefore safety of the plant. This challenge relates specifically to hazardous work environments, not specifically office locations, bathrooms, etc. Further Context: We, Sitech, want to look into what services we can provide to support maintenance, both from biological and from environmental safety perspective. Challenge Owners: SitechChallenge #4: Arranging a Funeral Remotely
How can you arrange a funeral via the internet, no longer at the table with the families? In which way that nobody feels short, including the DELA colleague who facilitates the funeral. If the new normal is remote funeral planning, how can the very human act of comforting be somehow replicated when digital means are necessary? Further Context: "Traditionally, our DELA colluagues involved with arranging the funeral were doing that at the kitchen table with the family. A big motivation in this job is meaning. They reach that meaningfulness by being close to familie and giving them great service. Some of our colleagues are experiencing the job less meaningfully because of the distance. Additionally, we feel that we could be providing more value to the customer in an extremely sensitive time while supplying funeral planning." Challenge Owners: DelaChallenge #5: Re-Democratizing Management & Decision Making
"How can we restart the democratic processes within companies given the remote nature of the new normal work environment, without losing the possibility/speed we have now? This crisis also has a positive side when it comes to innovation procedures. Innovation decisions can go faster or can be skipped with a top-down approach. A lot of barriers in the normal, more democratic process are gone and things get done very quickly. But the bad side is that field or content specialists don't have time to participate and bring their knowledge in the way they could before the crisis. Normally the specialists on a project or groups of specialists are able to provide input on a very frequent basis from a bottom-up perspective, but during this crisis, there is a major reliance on top-down decision making and autocracy. It took us years to get to democratic processes within companies, how can we keep that through the crisis and strike a balance with the speed of autocracy? What practical working processes can we add to the work week that can maintain high-levels of engagement?” Challenge Holders: Meander Groep, Dela, and MedtronicChallenge #6: Securing Nature for Humans
A large percentage of the population of Limburg, but also other regions of the Euregio, are patiently waiting for quarantine to end so that they may once again enjoy spring and all that it has to offer outdoors. Tourism boards and governments are anticipating the enthusiasm to create problems with the flow of human traffic on bike lanes and hiking paths if a sudden influx of people begin using these outdoor areas again all at once. Some kind of solution to optimizing the flow of people in the outdoor space is needed to prevent crowds and traffic from overwhelming social distancing standards that will still be necessary to keep people healthy. How might governments advise outdoor enthusiasts on the most healthy locations to enjoy nature? Is it an app? If so, how do we get the right dynamic data to make the app operate as up-to-the-minute as possible? The second half of this challenge presents an opportunity to, by preventing buildups of heavy human traffic, redirect them to undiscovered places in, for example, Zuid Limburg. Because of this there is also the opportunity to help small businesses which are 'off the beaten path’ and may have an even harder time surviving the crisis. After the crisis, the app can help integrate other cultural, historical, and outdoors themes for tourism boards to help visitors and residents to discover. Challenge Holders: VVV Zuid Limburg & Provincie LimburgChallenge #7: Securing the Inner City
How can we implement practical and explainable measures that can guide compliance with the 1.5 meter society in a playful and self-evident manner. How can we seduce people to give each other space. Both in public space and in public buildings or other locations. ” Securing the inner city in a sustainable manner is a compelling challenge for Municipalities. Questions regarding what is the best way to make people as safe as they need to be now, while balancing the future adaptability of a security measure are common for the past few months. How can we implement practical and explainable measures that can guide compliance with the 1.5 meter standard society in a playful and obvious manner? How can we encourage people to also respect the space of others while in the inner city and while visiting shops and public buildings? The solutions must strike a balance between being strict enough to stop further infection now while being flexible enough to accommodate future measures - or the loosening of restrictions over time. Challenge Holders: Gemeente HeerlenChallenge #8: Medical Supply Chain Optimization
Medical Supplies: Medical supplies are a logistical nightmare at the moment. How can we fix problems so that those who need supplies get the correct equipment and material on time? Challenge Holders: MedtronicWhat is Hack4SmartServices?
Information
WELCOME TO HACK4SMARTSERVICES
It shouldn’t be a surprise when we say the world is changing fast. Digitization is becoming the core of all new and existing businesses. The reason for it is deeply rooted in the way we operate as human beings. We’re used to changing technologies, but when technology is changing so fast and deeply as it does today, it does not only change the game, it changes the rules of the game. Many businesses see business models they held on to for years, being challenged. On the other hand, technology provides so many new opportunities as well. If only you could grasp both the technology as well as the business model. If only, you could design the way the future would look like… If only, you could challenge yourself to become a part of that very future… If only…
WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
During the hackathon you will tackle one of the challenges above, using technology. In a small team of 4-6 people, you come up with a solution and work out a proof-of-concept and business plan. Throughout the weekend coaches will help you with different aspects: how to use smart technology, set up experiments, analyze data and build algorithms, write software, make a business case and pitch your idea.
WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?
If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and/or a passion for technology, we would love to have you on board. We want to bring together people with different backgrounds: data scientists, engineers, software coders, user experience experts, marketeers, business people, investors … We are looking for students as well as professionals. You can register as a team or as an individual. In the latter case, we will link you with other participants that have complementary skills, so you form a great team.
WHY SHOULD YOU PARTICIPATE?
You will discover new technology and meet a lot of people. You will learn how you can transform an idea into a real product. The best teams will be supported after the hackathon and might kick off their own tech start-up.
Location
Due to Covid-19 (Coronavirus) the hackathon will take place fully online. All the participants can make use of the Discord server which will be used as the primary communication platform for this hackathon. Discord supports voice channels, texting, file sharing and screensharing within your team. The final pitches will take place via a livestream on Youtube
Schedule & Roadmap
| Time | Program Hackathon Day 1 (Monday May 11) |
|---|---|
| 16:00 | Hacking - Coaches will be available in this timeframe |
| 19:00 | Close of Day 1 |
| Time | Program Hackathon Day 2 (Tuesday May 12) |
|---|---|
| 16:00 | Hacking - Coaches will be available in this timeframe |
| 19:00 | Close of Day 2 |
| Time | Program Hackathon Day 3 (Wednesday May 13) |
|---|---|
| 16:00 | Hacking - Coaches will be available in this timeframe |
| 19:00 | Close of Day 3 |
| Time | Program Hackathon Day 4 (Thursday May 14) |
|---|---|
| n/a/td> | Judges will assess the submitted solutions. Participants do not have to log in. |
| Time | Program Hackathon Day 5 (Friday May 15) |
|---|---|
| 11:00 | Livestream: winner announcement |
| 16:00 | Close of Day 5 |
Final program may differ from the above
Partners
Registration
Inspirational Event
April 22 & 29, 2020
Join us online on April 22 and/or 29 for an evening of networking before the hackathon takes place to prepare and gain insights.
At this event, we will give you more information and details of the hackathon challenge.
Hackathon
May 11-15, 2020
Register here for the online hackathon itself. An opportunity to contribute to society during one of the most difficult periods in history.
You can still participate in the hackathon event, if you did not attend the inspirational event.Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hackathon?
A hackathon is best described as an “invention marathon”. Anyone who has an interest in technology attends a hackathon to learn, build & share their creations over the course of multiple days in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. You don’t have to be a programmer and you certainly don’t have to be majoring in Computer Science.
Who can participate?
The hackathon is open to the public: everyone is welcome to participate.
Can we work as a team?
Teams with interdisciplinary skills are typically the most successful ones – a suggestion for a good team mix is to have members with these skill sets: User Experience and Design, Business and Marketing, Software Development, Data Analytics, …
What if I don't have a team?
No problem. There will be an open window at the beginning of the competition when teams can be formed with other registered participants.
What if I don't have an idea?
That’s normal. Most people don’t have an idea before they get to the event. But once you start talking to other people, you might come up with something. You can also work with someone else on his or her idea if you like it. And there will be prizes at the event which might help give you some ideas. Don’t worry about it, you’ll find something to work on.
What are the exact rules of engagement?
A hackathon is by definition an open innovation event which means that you will collaborate with others to come up with new innovative ways. We do understand that sometimes you may have other questions or concerns, so here you will find the official official rules and code of conduct.
Where will the hackathon take place?
Due to the coronavirus, the hackathon will take place fully online. Before the hackathon, participants who register will receive a Sparkboard link. Here they can share and join ideas and teams. During the hackathon itself, Discord will be used as the main platform to work and communicate with each other. There will be various Youtube livestreams during the hackathon to stay as close as possible to each other.
