Ocean Hackathon ^® is a 48-hour event during which teams have a unique opportunity to develop innovative ideas using digital data related to the sea and the coastal area . The competition takes place in several stages, the first of which is the proposal of challenges or topics that will be made available to the contestants. It’s a call open until the 30 June.

The competition where the offered challenges will be solved will be held from 9 until 11 October in 19 cities across Europe , including Split, as well as in Canada and Mexico. The winners from each city have their travel paid and all expenses covered for the final competition in Brest, which will be held at the end of the year, and prizes are also provided for the winners of local competitions.

What is a challenge?

The challenge can be an idea or need of any user of the sea and coastal area . Also, the challenge can be a project that is already under development , and for which you need new expertise and knowledge that you do not possess yourself.

The challenge in Ocean Hackathon ^® is based on the use of available digital data. According to their form, digital data can be: nautical charts, photographs, legal aspects and maritime safety, cable locations, wrecks, buoys, sea changes, sea level, oceanographic forecasts, pollution, ecology, physical and chemical characteristics of the coastal area, maritime activities.

Who can submit a challenge?

The challenge can be submitted by all natural and legal persons (companies, scientific and research organizations, higher education institutions, associations, students…) who have an idea or a problem worth solving , and whose content is close to the topics of the sea and the coastal area . The goal of the competition is to develop new products and services, test innovative concepts and share knowledge about seas and oceans.

How to report a challenge?

The challenge is registered via the Ocean Hackathon ^® 2020 platform by filling out a short form in English: https://campusmer.typeform.com/to/G2bTh7

Challenges that will be offered to Ocean Hackathon ^® competitors will be selected based on several criteria:

• connection with the sea,
• use of marine data,
• the originality and innovation of the challenge,
• connection between challenges and goals of ocean sustainability,
• with the consent of the challenge owner to attend the final competition.

Based on the above criteria, challenges will be selected during July, for which competitors will be able to apply in September. The applicant of the challenge is the owner of the challenge and during the application he undertakes to be present at the competition itself.

The Technology Transfer Office of the University of Split, together with its partners the European Entrepreneurial Network, the Science and Technology Park of the University of Rijeka, the Varaždin Technology Park, the Split Tech City Association and the SPI Entrepreneurial Incubator and with the support of the ICT County, is the organizer of the Ocean Hackathon ^® at the University of Split.

For more information, contact the Technology Transfer Office by email: info@utt.unist.hr or by calling: 021566 882.