One of the Middle East’s first region-wide virtual hackathons on cloud-based innovation hosted by Tamkeen Bahrain and powered by Amazon Web Services.
The Goal Of The MENA Hackathon:
Over a period of 48 hours, the minds of selected young individuals with various skills and backgrounds will be put together to collaborate and come up with brilliant tech-based solutions in the form of applications* and prototypes* to overcome any identified challenges existing in different world sectors.
*The provision of all resources including Prototype and Application Development support is facilitated by the AWS Cloud Innovation Centers in Bahrain.
The themes of the MENA Hackathon will include the following sectors:
Healthcare
Each year the world is exposed to new volumes of compelling research that can reflect progress in this field in a variety of dimensions—new age investigations, up and coming sources of data, and fresh, unique methodologies are needed to be applied in order for innovation to flourish in the field of Health Information Technology.
Challenges:
- Developing new tools that make the technological interfaces used in the medical field more effective
- Identifying creative practices to better manage the transitions of IT systems and monitor system performance.
- Developing real-time automated surveillance methods that make data sharing more efficient and visible.
Tourism
With the rapid advancement and application of leading information technologies in the tourism and hospitality industry, it is imperative to update the growth of technology use in the past decade and set up research agenda for future exploration.
Challenges:
- Developing cutting-edge tools to make it easier for businesses to automate operations for improved productivity and cost-efficiency.
- Designing engaging and attractive mechanisms that tourism companies can adopt to deliver services to their customers with improved service quality.
- Discovering solutions that the hospitality sector can utilize to cope with AI and robotics technologies replacing traditional workforce.
Smart Cities
More than 50% of the world’s population already lives in urban areas, with that figure predicted to rise to 70% by 2050. To reduce the challenging strain on infrastructure and the environment, cities are in need of becoming more efficient with resources, more adaptable and more resilient. Innovative Smart solutions are in need of creation to squeeze more efficiency out of the system.
Challenges:
- Developing innovative technologies that support investment in sustainable infrastructure like public transport and green spaces in urban cities.
- Creating modern-age frameworks that can be implemented to improve career and business opportunities in smart-cities.
- Figuring out how cloud-based technologies can aid urban-planning and management in smart-cities?
Can your idea solve one of the above challenges or more? Are you ready to take this unique opportunity of a life-altering experience? Do you want the chance to turn your creative ideas into innovative tech solutions that could change the world!??!
On the occasion of this collaborative initiative, Mr. Esam Hammad, Partnership and Customer Engagement Director at Tamkeen, said “The regional hackathon provides a unique opportunity for participants to exercise their innovative and creative skills while putting them into action, especially since the Kingdom’s direction is heading towards digital transformation. The hackathon will enable participants to pitch their ideas and creative solutions to help develop Bahrain’s sectors in tourism, urban infrastructure, and health care, which this year has proven its necessity for innovation and flexibility. This also goes in line with our objectives at Tamkeen of empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and supporting their sustainable ideas.”
This uniquely interactive event was also praised by Dr Khalid Al Mutawah Director of Governance and Enterprise Architecture at the Bahrain’s Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) who said, “Visionary events such as the MENA Hackathon will encourage the youth across the MENA region to overcome challenges and come up with solutions that have the potential to improve the quality of life of citizens and promote sustainability in Bahrain and the region.”
Nidal Al Basha, Digital Innovation Leader, Cloud Innovation Centers, AWS, Middle East and North Africa, said, “We are excited to be collaborating with Tamkeen in launching this hackathon and engaging young talent to solve some of the region’s challenges with AWS cloud technologies. By extending the resources of the Cloud Innovation Centers, participants will get expert mentoring, acquire new skills, and learn about the limitless opportunities to innovate on the cloud.”
HACKATHON LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
ADMISSIBLE AGE GROUPS:
Level 1 – High School Students (ages 14-18)
Level 2 – University Students & Recent Graduates (ages 18-30)
TEAM REQUIREMENTS: Min. 2 to Max. 5 Team Members
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 2nd JANUARY, 2021
Shortlisted Applicants Announcement: 7th JANUARY, 2021
Prior to the MENA Hackathon event itself, two consecutive Pre-Hack Learning Days will be held.
Every participant has the opportunity to attend these days for FREE where various types of engaging and beneficial activities relevant to each sector will take place.
Attendees of the Pre-Hack Days might get the opportunities to win some pre-hack mini-prizes or giveaways and get the chance to attend formal and informal meet-ups and gatherings!
Types of Activities:
Speaker Sessions with prominent industry personalities
Panel Session 1 :
Living the “Smart” Life
13 Jan 2021 – 4pm to 5pm
This panel takes a deep dive into smart cities and its important elements like 5G, Internet of Things, Wireless communication, and many more!
Moderator
Saba Saleem Warsi
Founder
Stories Studio
Speakers
-Dr. Reham Almesaeed
Assistant Professor – CE – IT
University of Bahrain
-Mohamed Elkanzi
ICT Lecturer
Bahrain Polytechnic
Panel Session 2 :
Transcending Borders – A Modern Look at ICT
13 Jan 2021 – 3pm to 4pm
This panel provides a fresh outlook on the role that ICT has played and is playing in transforming the modern lifestyle, entertainment and consumer industries.
Moderator
Dina Shabib
Entrepreneur
Etijah Coaching & Consulting Services
Speakers
-Dr. Christos Gatzoulis
Head of School: ICT
Bahrain Polytechnic
-Dr. Mazen Ali
Associate Professor: IS
University of Bahrain
– Nidal Al-Basha
Digital Innovation Lead – MENA Region
Amazon Web Services
Panel Session 3 :
How 2020 Has Changed Healthcare – and What’s Next?
12 Jan 2021 – 3pm to 4pm
This panel discusses the challneges in the healthcare sector, touch on the pandemic and the importance of improved tech in healthcare and the next steps.
Moderator
Dina Shabib
Entrepreneur
Etijah Coaching & Consulting Services
Speakers
– Rohit Srivastava
Chief Executive Officer
Royal Hospital For Women and Children
– Wafeeq Ajoor
Consultant/Advisor (IT)
National Health Regulatory Authority
Panel Session 4 :
How to Fund Your Business Idea
12 Jan 2021 – 4pm to 5pm
You’ve got your idea, the passion, the knowledge: what about the funding? this workshop helps you discover the important role of seed investment and how to secure it to boost the growth of your startup into becoming a successful business.
Moderator
Dina Shabib
Entrepreneur
Etijah Coaching & Consulting Services
Speakers
– Mr. Hussain Haji
Chief Executive Officer | Co-Founder
Inagrab
– Ms. Sara Schwab
Founder | Chief Executive Officer
The Experience Accelerator
Workshops by leading field experts
Workshop 1 :
A Curious Guide to Technovation
12 Jan 2021 – 5pm to 6pm
Learn and and be curious, that is the key leadership principle that this expert workshop promotes; here, you will learn about the unique combination of technology with innovation.
Speaker
Nidal Al-Basha
Digital Innovation Lead – MENA Region
Amazon Web Services
Workshop 2 :
Push That Pitch!
13 Jan 2021 – 5pm to 6pm
A simple guide on how to professionally design and pitch your idea and transform it into a winning product.
Speaker
Saleh Abbas
Senior Program Manager
Flat6labs Bahrain
REGISTRATION FEE: FREE
HACKATHON DURATION: 48 Hours
HACKATHON EVENT DATES: 14 – 16 JANUARY, 2021
PRE-HACK EVENT DATES: 12 – 13 JANUARY, 2021
TIMINGS
HACKATHON EVENT: 12 PM (Thu) – 12 PM (Sat) (UTC+3)
PRE-HACK EVENT: 3 PM – 7 PM(UTC+3)
Judging Round & Closing Ceremony: 3 PM (UTC+3)
NO. OF TEAMS: 20+
TRACKS: 3
MODULES: 3
LOCATION: VIRTUAL*
*The hackathon will be held completely virtually through a wide range of user-friendly and innovative online platforms.
On the evening of 16 January 2021, a total of 15 teams were declared as winners from the Healthcare, Tourism and Smart Cities sectors in each of the 2 admissable age-groups of the MENA Hackathon. The winning teams belonged to 7 different countries from the MENA region.
Business Incubation Opportunities!
Personalized Mentorship Session with AWS for Winners!
A Spot in Flat6Labs Bahrain Bootcamp for Select Winners!
$10,000+ Worth of Amazon Devices in Prizes!
$4,000+ Worth of AWS Promotional Credits for Winners!
Exclusive Innovation Training by AWS!
Award Plaques for Winners!
Participation Certificates!
The MENA Hackathon will offer the support of various Mentors with knowledge of the relevant sectors to assist the teams during the different hackathon modules.
Innovation Level: is how the judges will measure your team’s awareness of the other attempts made by your potential competitors at solving the issue you are, and how you intend to position yourselves in the Hackathon. Is your team aiming to pull off an idea no one has ever pulled off before? Is your idea unique and brand new?
User Experience: is an element that will determine the key “wow” component of your solution to a challenge. What impression did your team’s hackathon application and content of pitch make? It would reflect the ingenuity of your idea despite your team’s diversity. Does your prototype incite feelings of delight, empowerment, excitement, or even relief in a human being when they use it?
Working Idea: means that the judges will test the realistic capabilities of your solution. Your team’s pitch and prototype should give a decent indication of the reliant factors and effort levels required to implement and produce the proposed technology. This criteria would aim to quantify that.
Nidal Al-Basha
Digital Innovation Lead – MENA Region
Amazon Web Services
Mohamed Elkanzi
ICT Lecturer
Bahrain Polytechnic
Rohit Srivastava
Chief Excecutive Officer
Royal Hospital For Women and Children
Dina Shabib
Entrepreneur
Etijah Coaching & Consulting Services
Dr. Reham Almesaeed
Assistant Professor – CE – IT
University of Bahrain
Wael Alkhumour
Digital Innovation lead – Public Sector
Amazon Web Services
Nicholas David
Solutions Architect – SPC
Amazon Web Services
Nidal Al-Basha
Digital Innovation Lead – MENA Region
Amazon Web Services
Khaled F. Alalawi
Entrepreneurship Support Manager
Tamkeen
Dr. Christos Gatzoulis
Head of School: ICT
Bahrain Polytechnic
Wafeeq Ajoor
Consultant/Advisor: IT
NHRA
Dr. Mazen Ali
Associate Professor: IS
University of Bahrain
Fawzi Rahal
Managing Director
Flat6Labs Beirut
Dina Shabib
Entrepreneur
Etijah Coaching & Consulting Services
Yehia Houry
Managing Director
Flat6Labs Tunis
Mounir Chehab
CEO
Bahraini Company
MENA Hackathon Launch
Post MENA Hackathon
Those not interested in hacking can choose to get involved as volunteers to provide additional support during the event. With the MENA Hackathon being fully online, it has the potential to build networks along local and regional markets, so don’t miss out on your opportunity to be a part of that action! To apply as a volunteer please send your CV to pr@etijahcoaching.com.
For any further Inquiries, please contact us on our WhatsApp Number: +973 3508-0654
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