The 2014 EU-China Hackathon follows the highly successful first edition of the InnoApps competition of 2013, that was initiated by leading global ICT company Huawei and the non-profit organization European Young Innovators Forum (EYIF). Adding a creative new twist to this year’s contest, Huawei and EYIF have partnered with AIESEC in mainland China to launch the first ever EU China app developers’ hackathon. With the aim of creating a cross-cultural and open platform for talented youth from across Europe and China to not only meet one another but to also work together, the competition will challenge participants to jointly design mobile applications that will contribute to making our cities smarter.
“Ultrafast broadband and smart devices are driving the trend toward smart cities in which virtually everything and everyone is connected,” explains Leo Sun, President of Huawei’s Public Affairs Office in Brussels. “Providing young people with opportunities to join forces across continents and become actors of this transformation is the best way to ensure that this massive connectivity contributes to inclusive societies.”
Thanks to an online platform that will be established specifically for this competition, young participants from Europe and China will pair up with one another and will virtually meet on the platform on a regular basis to combine their novel ideas and apply their complementary skill-sets. Experts and business mentors will be available to assist and support applicants in creating EU-China teams of two, as well as to provide technical support and advice throughout the competition.
"There are problems and opportunities across the nation and around the world. These challenges call for entrepreneurial leadership among the young generation to not only understand them but to also take actions about what's happening around us. The competition not only boosts ideas and technology-based solutions, but more importantly, it supports young leaders and entrepreneurs who can work on their strengths to explore their potential to make a positive impact on the world." - Zhang Xin, President of AIESEC in mainland China.
Six teams of finalists will be selected to attend a two-day ‘hackathon’ in Brussels in February 2015. On the third day, they will pitch their apps to the jury at the InnoApps Final Event.
The winners of the first prize will receive €20 000. The teams ranked second and third will be awarded €15 000 and €5 000 respectively. All winning teams will receive one-to-one mentorship to help them commercialise their app.
"InnoApps is the only online app competition in Europe that provides the necessary tools and support to help young people start with a good idea and actually fully develop, build, launch and commercialise an innovative app. The second edition focusses on Smart Cities, a key growth area for new apps in both the EU and China" – Kumardev Chatterjee, President of EYIF.
More about InnoApps on www.innoapps.eu
About Huawei
Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Through the dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, Huawei has established end-to-end advantages in telecom networks, devices and cloud computing. Huawei is committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers by providing competitive solutions and services. Its products and solutions have been deployed in over 170 countries, serving more than one third of the world’s population.
Huawei currently has over 7 700 staff based in Europe, of whom 850 are working in R&D. We run 14 R&D sites located in eight European countries (Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden and the UK) and operate numerous joint innovation centres in partnership with telecom and ICT partners.
Further information is available at www.huawei.eu
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About the European Young Innovators Forum (EYIF)
The European Young Innovators Forum is an independent, non-profit, pan-European, bottom-up association dedicated to promoting youth innovation. EYIF has rapidly become the leading foundation for youth innovation in Europe reaching more than 350 000 participants across all EU member states. EYIF gives a voice to a community of young innovators and experts who believe in taking risks, changing mindsets for innovation and valuing shared ideas and professional mentorship.
Further information is available at: www.eyif.eu
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About AIESEC
AIESEC is a global, non-political, independent, not-for-profit organization run by students and recent graduates of institutions of higher education, founded in1948. Its members are interested in world issues, leadership and management. AIESEC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, creed, and religion, national, ethnic or social origin. AIESEC provides its members with an integrated development experience comprised of leadership opportunities, international internships and participation in a global learning environment. To date, we have 780 local offices including 2,400 universities and 86,000 members. Every year, AIESEC MoC sends 3000+ young students abroad. They are the best ambassadors to convey the importance of an international experience.
Further information is available at: www.aiesec.org