UN kicks off Green ICT Hackathon

A United Nations-backed competition with the goal of uncovering sustainable approaches to information and communication technology (ICT) kicked off yesterday, bringing developers from around the world together in a ‘frenetic’ race of programming.

Organized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the two-day Green ICT Hackathon opened in Barcelona as part of the Organization’s wider efforts to harness the power of ICT in promoting and supporting the ‘International Year for Sustainable Energy for All.’

“Sustainable energy for all is crucial to the future of modern civilization,” said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré in a press release.

“ITU is committed to stimulating the creation of innovative ICT apps founded on new modes of thinking; ideas to effect the change needed to achieve a sustainable future,” he added.

The contest – also known as a ‘hackathon’ – pits developers against each other in a marathon of programming during which they will have to develop an innovative ICT application with sustainable energy as its core message.

The winner and runner-up of will be awarded cash prizes of $3,000 and $2,000 dollars respectively.

In addition, the 2nd Green ICT Application Challenge invites innovative concept papers for ICT applications supporting the ‘sustainable energy for all’ initiative.

ITU has called on all prospective entrants to submit papers which build on the way ICT can transform energy distribution as well as suggest ways in which technology users around the world can improve their own energy efficiency.

Source: UN News Centre / ITU