The European Commission has launched a unique initiative called pan-EU Hackathon #EUvsVirus to find solutions related to Coronavirus.
The Hackathon will be organized online on April 24 – 26, 2020, with entries possible until Sunday, April 19. You can sign up through the pan-EU Hackathon website.
Within the 48-hour Hackathon, the goal of this initiative is to jointly develop innovative solutions such as high-tech, low-tech, hardware, software solutions and the like, using biotechnology, digital technology, social science, and other innovation domains.
The event is open to a European community of innovators, start-ups, manufacturers, retailers, public and private customers, end-users and other stakeholders of the innovation ecosystem.
The overall purpose is to harmonize and connect innovators, partners, customers across Europe for the benefit of dealing with immediate crisis issues (e.g. rapid production of equipment, enhancement of production capabilities, knowledge and solutions transfer from one country to another) in various technological fields.
It is envisioned to develop prototypes and solutions in 5 areas (divided into 37 challenges):
- Health and life
- Business continuity
- Social and political cohesion
- Work and distance education
- Digital Finance
- Other.
The Hackathon will begin on Friday, April 24, with participants working on their solutions by Sunday (April 26), followed by an online pitch and a selection of the best projects. Selected projects will be published on the EIC Community Platform and thus gain access to end-users (e.g. hospitals, investors, foundations) and focus on current European Commission funding options. The full Hackathon schedule can be found here.
This Hackathon will be the starting point for longer cooperation between the European Commission and the ecosystem of innovators, manufacturers, and movers across Europe regarding the COVID-19 crisis.