Sign up for CoronaThon and help Montenegro find innovative solutions in the fight against the new coronavirus!

Podgorica, April 9, 2020 – The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Ministry of Science, and the Ministry of Culture are organizing the first online hackathon in Montenegro – CORONATHON.me, in collaboration with: DevClub, Alicorn, Digitalizuj.Me, and the Science and Technology Park. Media partners for the hackathon are RTCG, TV Vijesti, and the Vijesti portal.

The goal of the hackathon is to find solutions that will help Montenegro quickly adapt, respond to the crisis, and recover from the consequences of the new coronavirus – COVID-19. The event will bring together the digital community, experts from various fields, and citizens, with the virtual competition taking place from April 24 to 26. Teams will have 48 hours to develop a solution from the comfort of their homes.

The spread of COVID-19 is not only a health crisis. The pandemic is also causing a social and economic crisis, threatening to leave deep scars, weaken markets, and deepen inequalities. However, as the virus spreads and its consequences are already being felt, technology and innovation are playing an increasingly important role in overcoming these challenges. Technology not only facilitates functioning and everyday life under restrictions on movement but also offers effective solutions for a rapid response and recovery from the crisis.

Participants in CoronaThon, relying on the collective intelligence of the digital, scientific-research, and academic community, will focus their energy and knowledge on finding the best, fastest, and most efficient solutions for three priorities:

Protection of life and public health: Helping individuals and families to maintain their health; Providing community support to slow the spread of the virus; Protecting healthcare workers; Assisting in providing a faster and better response from the healthcare system; Promoting healthy lifestyles and supporting the development of adaptation mechanisms, including psycho-social support.

Accelerating recovery: Supporting the business sector to adapt and offer new services; Creating opportunities for youth employment; Ensuring access to financing for small businesses and start-ups; Innovations in providing services and support for the most vulnerable, in the context of employment and social protection; Protecting creative businesses – mapping creatives and connecting them with market demand; Utilizing new data and supporting digital infrastructure.

Ensuring a sustainable future: Innovative solutions to keep greenhouse gas emissions at the lowest possible level, through green tourism and sustainable transportation; Ensuring new green jobs; Creating new creative content to promote Montenegro and its cultural heritage (e.g., through demo video games); Activities in education – including investing in digital skills and infrastructure.

All proposed solutions should focus on protecting human rights, as well as safeguarding vulnerable groups.

Interested teams can apply by April 20th, 23:59, by filling out the form on the website www.coronathon.me. Teams will have support from mentors in the IT industry and in the area relevant to their solution. The public will be able to follow the final competition via a live video stream.

The total prize fund is €13,000: €5,000 for first place, €3,000 for second place, and €2,000 for third place, as well as three additional prizes of €1,000 each. Winning teams will also have expert support for implementing their solutions for the next three months, as well as media promotion.

The expert jury will select the winners of CoronaThon based on the following criteria: sustainability, potential for replicating the solution, impact, feasibility, timeline, and innovation. The focus is on practical solutions that can benefit individuals, the community, and businesses in the shortest possible time frame.

For more information about the hackathon, participation rules, and competition criteria, visit the official website – www.coronathon.me.

For any additional questions, interested parties can contact the organizers via email or social media:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: CoronaThon.me

Twitter: CorornathonMe

Instagram: coronathon.me

Media contacts:

Ivana Vujović, Communications Advisor, UNDP Office in Montenegro
Mob: 069 681 222, Email: [email protected]

Nevena Đurović, Public Relations Advisor, Ministry of Science
Mob: 067 231 205, Email: [email protected]

Nikola Radonjić – Bada, National Consultant for Cultural Policies and Creative Industries, UNDP
Mob: 068 232 272, Email: [email protected]

Sanja Gardašević, Executive Director of Alicorn
Mob: 067 722 721, Email: [email protected]

Source: UNDP Montenegro