Open Geneva, actor of the European Union hackathon EUvsVirus

From 24 to 26 April, some 20,900 people participated in an online hackathon. Initiated by a German company and a small team from the European Innovation Council, the event was made possible by 380 volunteers, who set up the event in less than a month.

The aim was to continue the projects carried out during regional covid hackathons, or to propose new ones. Participants were invited to work on one of the 39 proposed challenges, by forming a team via a discussion software (5000 channels created), and by submitting their proposal on a dedicated website. In total, 2150 projects were submitted.

Swiss participation

For Switzerland, 319 people participated in the event, as well as three ambassadors:

• Didier Pittet, Director of the Infection Control Programme at the University Hospitals of Geneva and the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Patient Safety
• Pierre-Yves Maillard, National Councillor, President of the Swiss Union of Trade Unions, former Head of the Department of Health and Social Action of the Canton of Vaud
• Martina Hirayama, State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation

At the level of the Swiss organisation, Fabio Balli, member of Open Geneva, and Petra Arends-Paltzer ensured the coordination, with the participation of Peter Broennimann from SEFRI.

At the global level, Martin Burr (artist ambassador), Emmanuel Kellner (associate project manager) and Fabio Balli (project manager) coordinated the civil society group. In particular, the group created a guide to encourage participants and non-profit organisations to collaborate during and after the event, and to increase their societal impact.

107 Swiss non-profit organisations were invited to participate, and four, including Open Geneva, registered. For the corporate group, PME One Technologies Sàrl provided 50 pro bono team profiles.

Swiss projects

Open source projects

• POCOVIDSCREEN- AI to detect COVID-19 with POCUS ultrasounds
  (medical grade, #2 cheap rapid test)
• Risk assessment based on best practices and lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic 
• Live rehearsals, lessons and performances on the Internet
• Detecting SARS-COV-2 using specially trained dogs

Other award-winning projects

• Aidbind
  (#1 category social cohesion, developing a solidarity economy + prize)
• The Village - Where The World Is Your Classroom
  (#1 in the distance education category, primary and secondary schools + prizes)
• Dattum
  (medical category, #2 research)
• My Slots
  (category business continuity, #1 stay close to customers + prizes)
• Immunisation Pass
  (social cohesion category, #2 supporting arts and entertainment)
• Art Hub
  (social cohesion category, #3 supporting arts and entertainment)
• Prevention of Domestic Violence: YANA.help
  (category social cohesion, #1 fight crime)
• Occupation-Shifter (by Skilllab)
  (category social cohesion, #4 developing a solidarity economy)
• 1_28 Balancever, your balanced daily routine
  (category remote activities, #3 family life)

There were no awards in the digital finance and other categories

Other projects

• Real-time patient monitoring
• Tokenization to sustainably finance a minor historical centre through baroque buildings renovation and smart working offering a low contagious environment
• Helping food banks to reach beneficiaries in risk groups with optimized routing + support food banks all over Europe 
• Disrupt business financing and allow freelancers to get equity
• Portable device that detects the COVID-19 virus and the COVID-19 severity at the same time in one sample in 40 minutes
• Local Hero - connecting volunteers, associations and people in need from any platform, the smart way

Upcoming events

At the end of the event, 117 project teams were invited by a jury to participate in a second event organised by the European Union from 22 to 25 May, which will link them with companies, investors, authorities and universities.

Members of the civil society group are also self-organising to support non-profit teams and organisations beyond the winners. One of the objectives is to organise an event to ensure that a minimum of projects (respirator, comfortable visor, disinfectant dispenser) can be freely reproduced around the world. This event will take place in the framework of the partnership between Open Geneva and the Geneva Health Forum.

Another group is also preparing a third event to help start-ups redefine their strategy in the face of the pandemic.