An online hackathon co-organized by the Executive Yuan and American Institute in Taiwan to develop solutions for combating coronavirus kicked off April 24 in Taipei City.
At the launch ceremony, Vice Premier Chen Chi-mai said the Coronavirus Hackathon builds on the Taiwan-U.S. Joint Statement on a Partnership against Coronavirus announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and AIT March 18.
Bringing together experts from around the world, the competition is seeking creative, practical solutions for epidemic prevention and control, Chen said.
Winning ideas should be able help countries hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic by strengthening their public health systems and support mechanisms, he added.
AIT Director Brent Christensen said the world has much to learn from Taiwan’s coronavirus response, which is among the most successful in the world according to nearly all available metrics.
The Taiwan Model offers five key lessons that can be summarized as the “Five Ts”—transparency, transportation controls, tracking, testing and technology—Christensen said, adding the hackathon is another example of innovative thinking in Taiwan.
According to the organizers, the first stage of the competition is set to run through May 1. Interested parties are encouraged to submit entries based on one of six themes: managing community resources, making a smooth transition after the pandemic, protecting vulnerable groups, predicting future pandemics, supporting front-line staffers and essential workers, and establishing data-driven risk assessments.
During the Cohack Gathering May 5-12, applicants must upload short videos introducing their solutions. A panel of judges will decide the top five based on the criteria of innovation, feasibility, social influence and citizen participation. (SFC-E)