By
Greentech Lead Team: ITU and
mobile major Telefonica have announced two challenges to uncover innovative ICT
approaches to support the 2012 UN-declared International Year for Sustainable
Energy for All.
The Green ICT Hackathon will
take place on 28-29 February during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain,
while the 2nd Green ICT
Application Challenge is open for the submission of Concept
Papers until 13 April, 2012.
“Sustainable
energy for all is crucial to the future of modern civilization. ITU is committed
to stimulating the creation of innovative ICT apps founded on new modes of
thinking; ideas to effect the change needed to achieve a sustainable future,”
said Hamadoun Toure, secretary-general, ITU.
“The Green ICT Hackathon is
part of the joint activities of Telefonica’s Global Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Office, Movistar Spain and Bluevia, Telefonica’s global developer platform. These initiatives have a double
objective – first, to support developers with great ideas, and second, to
foster green ICT applications for energy efficiency and sustainable
development,” said Alberto Andreu Pinillos, chief reputation and sustainability
officer at Telefonica.
Green ICT Hackathon is an
application-development marathon where developers compete to create innovative
apps within a defined timeframe. The Green
ICT Hackathon will be an opportunity for developers from all
over the world to compete in developing an ICT application with sustainable
energy as its core.
The winner and runner-up of the Green ICT Hackathon will be awarded cash
prizes of $3,000 and $2,000 respectively. The awards will be made onsite during
Mobile World Congress on 29 February, and are intended to fuel further
development of the most promising apps.
Supported
by ITU and Telefonica, the event also benefits from additional support from
Nokia as part of its global strategy for sustainability worldwide.
The
2nd Green ICT
Application Challenge invites innovative Concept Papers for
ICT applications that support sustainable energy for all. ITU encourages
entrants to submit Concept Papers that build on these exciting innovations,
suggesting new ways in which users can improve their own energy efficiency.
The winning entry will receive a cash prize of $3,000 at an
award ceremony to take place during the United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012.