As Saudis brace themselves for another week of lockdown in an attempt to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity Programming and Drones (SAFCSP) has taken to the digital world to organize Homathon, a national event unlike any other. Homathon is a #StayAtHome online hackathon set up to aim of building technical solutions help to address the challenges individuals, communities, businesses, and governments are facing as a result of the current COVID-19 outbreak.
The digital event, which is set to launch on April 25, has already received over 10,000 applications from software developers from 51 countries, as reported by Saudi Gazette. Participants will compete in creating the most innovative solutions within eight tracks: health, remote work, entertainment, commerce, e-government, fintech, logistics, and edutech.
According to SPA, teams can comprise of two to five people who will compete over a seven-day period “to build qualitative technical solutions with a significant impact to reduce the effects of coronavirus.” Homathon’s website has already listed the cash prizes, setting the prize for first place at 50,000 US dollars cash, second at 25,000 USD, and third place will receive 15,000 USD.
Homathon will also feature prominent names in the field, such as: H.E. Dr. Abdullah Bin Sharaf Alghamdi, President of The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority; H.E. Dr. Esam Al Wagait, Director of National Information Center;Eng. Nasser Al Nasser CEO at STC Group; and Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, Senior Vice President, Middle East, Africa and Central Eastern Europe At Oracle.
“Welcome to Saudi Arabia, where future is being built, today”
— Global AI Summit (@globalaisummit) November 3, 2019
H.E. Dr. Abdullah Bin Sharaf Alghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, announces the Global AI Summit, in Riyadh in March 2020https://t.co/VSPJtUMuKp#Global_AI_Summit pic.twitter.com/XH5dQ6HmOL
Aside from its competitive purpose, Homathon will also provide participants with the opportunity to network with other participants, as well as the 100-plus mentors and speakers from all the corners of the world.The hackathon will be offering over 50 talks, workshops, and one-on-one mentorship sessions covering the latest trends in business and technology.
