Qatar Development Bank (QDB) launched an online portal to register participants in an initiative to develop entrepreneurial ideas to contribute to reducing the repercussions of the coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic.
This initiative will be accomplished through the launch of the “hackathon,” which is an online platform that will open for four days, to allow innovators to develop their entrepreneurial ideas that will help in dealing with the various problems and challenges posed by the spread of the novel coronavirus epidemic.
Qatar Development Bank said that all those interested in entrepreneurial ideas, can help in addressing the repercussions of the spread of the coronavirus in various fields, can submit their requests to participate in the hackathon initiative starting Thursday and until Tuesday through the online portal www.hackcovid19.qa
The hackathon initiative includes four challenges which are, ‘challenge one; protect the elderly & at-risk members of our community from Covid-19 exposure, challenge two; ensure the safety & efficiency of our healthcare professionals amid the Covid-19 outbreak, challenge three; strengthen our supply chain to facilitate the availability of medical supplies & essentials, offsetting Covid-19 limitations and challenge four; maintain the productivity & well-being of our workforce during the Covid-19 pandemic’.
The five winning ideas will receive financing and support of QR250,000 each, to develop and implement their ideas, as well as several services, advisory programmes and incubation services that will help the implementation of the ideas. QDB CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa said that hackathon HACK-COVID-19 to develop innovative solutions to tackle the corona epidemic is a unique national initiative that reflects the volume of co-operation between different state entities in working to provide an opportunity for innovators of pioneering ideas that will find practical solutions to reduce the impact of the epidemic on a number of sectors.
Al-Khalifa added that this initiative is a testament to the constant eagerness of Qatar Development Bank and its partners to embrace and support the owners of these ideas at all times.
Al-Khalifa expressed thanks to all parties that co-operated with the bank in launching this pioneering national initiative, expressing his confidence that its outcomes will be to find the best possible solutions to deal with the effects of the epidemic and reduce its repercussions at all levels.
The national initiative, to be held from April 16 to 19, is held in partnership between Qatar Development Bank and a number of entities and institutions in the country, which are the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ooredoo, Aspetar Hospital, University of Qatar, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, North Atlantic College in Qatar, HEC Paris Business University in Qatar, Qatar Business Incubation Center, Qatar Sport Accelerator, Digital Incubation Center, Qatar Science & Technology Park, Nama Center, Qatar Scientific Club and TASMU Innovation Lab.
Qatar Development Bank
