The UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development, in partnership with Hackster.io, is calling on hardware and software developers, product designers, scientists, hackers, makers, and innovators to come together to support developing countries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the sharing and transfer of open source technology.
As COVID-19 has shown, challenge and crisis cross borders – impacting everywhere on Earth. Innovation and ingenuity are also not constrained by geography. The COVID-19 Detect and Protect Challenge is an opportunity to find and apply the best and brightest of humanity, wherever it may be found. A panel of judges will review and select the top 10 open source solutions on a rolling basis through 2020. Winners will receive global recognition and variety of awards for their contribution to society and humankind. Using the UNDP's vast global network and resources from all supporting partners, UNDP will work with the winning creators on the best way to transfer the knowledge to those who need it most.
This challenge has three priority actions:
- Design replicable, low-cost tools and resources to aid viral detection
- Flatten the curve in communities with preventive solutions
- Reduce the disease's impact on the economies of these vulnerable areas
Detect
Harness your skills to aid citizens and healthcare providers with everyday tools that support the diagnosis of the coronavirus and future outbreaks. Computer vision thermometers, smart oximeters, cloud-based heatmaps and apps, data science-backed insight, open-source hardware, or advanced computational models — all are welcome.
Protect
Imagine and invent apparatuses that help slow down the spread of the disease. 3D-printable protective equipment, easy-to-assemble hand sanitizing dispensers, public alerts, mass broadcasting tools, contamination monitoring, rapid face mask production with advanced or everyday materials — there are no limits.