UNDP COVID-19 Detect & Protect Challenge 2020 ($25,000 in prizes)

Application Deadline: June 30, 2020 at 12:00AM PT

THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCES THE COVID-19 DETECT AND PROTECT CHALLENGE.

As COVID-19 has shown, challenge and crisis cross borders – impacting everywhere on Earth. However, innovation and ingenuity are not constrained by geography. The COVID-19 Detect and Protect Challenge is an opportunity to find and apply the best and brightest of humanity, wherever it may be found.

A panel of judges will review and select the top 10 open source solutions on a rolling basis through 2020. Winners will receive global recognition and variety of awards for their contribution to society and humankind. Using the UNDP’s vast global network and resources from all supporting partners, we’ll work with the winning creators on the best way to transfer the knowledge to those who need it most. 

The UNDP is calling on Hackster’s global community to support developing countries through the sharing and transfer of open source technology. This challenge has three priority actions:

• Design replicable, low-cost tools and resources to aid viral detection
• Flatten the curve in communities with preventive solutions
• Reduce the disease’s impact on the economies of these vulnerable areas

This extraordinary global situation demands a global response. As an answer, the UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development and Hackster.io are joining forces with the world’s brightest technology companies. We are calling on hardware and software developers, product designers, scientists, hackers, makers, and innovators to come together to work for those who will be hardest hit by this pandemic.

As COVID-19 has shown, challenge and crisis cross borders – impacting everywhere on Earth. However, innovation and ingenuity are also not constrained by geography. The COVID-19 Detect and Protect Challenge is an opportunity to find and apply the best and brightest of humanity, wherever it may be found.

Detect

Harness your skills to aid citizens and healthcare providers with everyday tools that support the diagnosis of the coronavirus and future outbreaks. Computer vision thermometers, smart oximeters, cloud-based heatmaps and apps, data science-backed insight, open source hardware, or advanced computational models — all are welcome.

Protect

Imagine and invent apparatuses that help slow down the spread of the disease. 3D-printable protective equipment, easy-to-assemble hand sanitizing dispensers, public alerts, mass broadcasting tools, contamination monitoring, rapid face mask production with advanced or everyday materials — there are no limits.

Prizes

The panel of judges will pick the best qualifying 10 projects on a rolling basis. Winners will be notified and posted in the discussion tab. Please review the judging criteria outlined in the rules section before submitting.

The UNDP COVID-19 Detect and Protect Award

10 winnersThe Global UNDP Innovator Award$1,500 value

UNDP recognition badge and certificate, NXP HoverGames drone and telemetry radio, and $1,000 Visa gift card

The Hackster Impact Detect Award

10 winnersThe Hackster Impact Detect Award$500 value

A Hackster Impact recognition badge, an NVIDIA Jetson Kit, a Soracom Global SIM card with $50 in credits, and a $100 Visa gift card.

The Hackster Impact Protect Award

10 winnersThe Hackster Impact Protect Award$500 value

A Hackster Impact recognition badge, Coral Dev Board from Google, a Soracom Global SIM card with $50 in credits, and a $100 Visa gift card.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the UNDP COVID-19 Detect & Protect Challenge 2020