The G20 Research and Innovation Working Group's "Hackathon" competition opened on the 2nd, focusing on collaborative efforts to address disaster risks in an era of accelerating climate change.
The four-day competition was hosted by the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) of South Africa, the current G20 presidency. A hackathon is an innovation competition in which participants typically form teams within a short period of time to develop software or hardware prototypes around a specific theme, present them, and compete in a competition.
A statement from the South African Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation stated that the competition, held online, included experts in data science, urban research, and disaster risk management from China, Canada, Singapore, Italy, Spain, Kenya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.
The statement stated that the competition, themed "Reducing Disaster Risk through Open Innovation," aims to enhance the resilience of climate-vulnerable and water-stressed regions through digital technologies, open data systems, and cross-border collaboration. Participating teams will develop innovative digital solutions using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and geospatial analysis, focusing on predicting informal urban expansion and its impact on flood risk.
The statement also stated that this event can serve as a dynamic testing ground to provide evidence-based solutions and provide a basis for urban policy making and planning. The final results will be presented at the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Research and Innovation on September 23, providing reference for high-level discussions on climate adaptation, urban resilience and other related issues.
