The third edition of CTO Forum Innovation Hackathon has started to take the innovation and creativity of the youth to an international level in the development of sustainable technology for the national interest. This national organization of information technologists started the registration of this hackathon of national level by holding a press conference at Carwanbazar Software Technology Park on Saturday.
This event will start from September 1 with the idea round in Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet and Rajshahi divisions simultaneously in hybrid model to explore innovative ideas. Participants have to register online to take this glorious opportunity to earn a hundred thousand Taka with sustainable ideas and solve national problems. Until August 31, any Bangladeshi citizen from higher secondary to above can register from CTO Forum Bangladesh website (portal.ctoforumbd.org/innovation-hackathon-2022).
CTO Forum President Tapan Kanti Sarkar said in a press conference about the hackathon that Bangladesh is in the Golden Dividend era, reminding them that if these young people can be properly utilized and their innovative ideas can be properly nursed, then the Digital Bangladesh will come to reality. So, he urged them to bring forward their ideas without delay and to participate in this innovation hackathon to ensure the implementation of these ideas.
Dr. Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, Managing Director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority and Additional Secretary of ICT Division, joining the press conference virtually, said that this innovation hackathon will be a milestone to transform Bangladesh into a digital hub for the world. As a partner of this innovation hackathon, he assured all possible cooperation from Hi-tech Park Authority . In his speech, the project director of the a2i project highlighted the necessity of innovation process to bring all the 2 thousand and more services of the government to the digitalization process.
Ahmedul Islam Babu, director of organizing partner BASIS, said that opportunities will be created for BASIS institutions to invest in the implementation of potential innovative initiatives.
As the title sponsor of the event, Bangladesh’s largest technology industry Fair Group along with its Fair Technology and world famous car brand Hyundai announced to be partner in this event. Ruhul Alam Al Mahbub, Honorable Chairman of Fair Group assured that there will have job opportunities for the participants in the hackathon.
Being connected virtually, the Hi-Tech Park Authority Managing Director Dr. Bikarna Kumar Ghosh said that the government will render full support to this initiative initiative of CTO Forum to build a smart Bangladesh with the power of youth and technology.
“We hope that the solution to the challenges of building a smart Bangladesh will come out from this hackathon”, said the a2i project director Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir.
Convener of the event Professor Dr. Syed Akhtar Hossain said, we will give more importance to the commercial success of the ideas of the innovators through mentors at the hackathon.
Hackathon organizing committee chair Professor Dr. Towhid Bhuiyan said that this innovation hackathon will play an important role in adapting their technologies by giving examples of various countries that are pioneers in innovation.
Jury and Mentor Committee Chair Prof. Dr. Dip Nandi confirmed the participation of eminent academicians and industry experts from home and abroad as jury and mentors in this hackathon.
Arfe Elahi Manik, General Secretary of CTO Forum sought the cooperation of media workers to ensure participation of youth by registering them in the Innovation Hackathon through a press conference.
Event Committee Chair Ashraful Haque, Finance Committee Chair Muhammad Musa, executive member Md. Asif and others spoke in the press conference.
It was announced In the press conference that, the best initiatives from this hackathon will be highlighted at the international level to face more open challenges including “hunger free world, good health, quality education, e-commerce, emerging technology, virtual assistance, online certificate verification and such other issues”.
It was informed in the press conference that the title sponsor of Innovation Hackathon 2022 is Hyundai brand of Fair Technologies. Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority and Aspire to Innovate (a2i) and BASIS have partnered in the hackathon. The best innovative team will be selected through the physical demonstration on October 8 and the final competition on October 22.