Overview:

          The ASEAN-India Hackathon, an initiative announced by the Prime Minister of India, H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi at the 16^th ASEAN-India Summit, is proposed to be a 36 hrs non-stop Hackathon which will offer unique opportunities to youngsters in all 10 ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam) and India to collaborate and work on new concepts to offer innovative and sustainable solutions for some of the daunting problems faced by our societies. ASEAN-India Hackathon will provide an opportunity to collaborate in the field of education, science and technology. The Hackathon will lead to collaboration on projects enabling skilled individuals to develop cross country bonds and get acquainted with each other’s cultures, values and work ethics.

2.       In the wake of uncertainties and travel restrictions due to COVID 19 pandemic, the Hackathon will be organized online using digital collaboration platform from 24^th Nov 2020 to 25^th Nov 2020; announcement of winners will be made on 27^th Nov 2020. The specific dates in Nov 2020 have been suggested based on the availability of the Prime Minister of India. Student teams from all 10 ASEAN countries as well as India will be invited to participate in this digital online Hackathon.

3.       Participating countries will not compete against each other but will collaborate, which means, each team will have participants from different countries working together during the Hackathon. List of problem statements for the ASEAN-India Hackathon will be decided in due course in consultation with ASEAN countries. Some of the suggested areas include blue economy, agriculture, tourism, health care and medical devices, environment, education, water, smart cities and campuses (involving energy, transportation, security), startup and entrepreneurship among others.

4.       Hackathons help students implement their academic skills in practical problem solving with more confidence, motivation and clearer concepts along with development of better analytical skills. They also help in developing their cognitive skills, emotional stability, creativity and design thinking. The expected outcomes of ASEAN-India Hackathon may include:

• Provide an opportunity to youngsters to collaborate across borders for better understanding the challenges faced by the humanity and working towards finding solutions;
• Engage students more actively on issues related to social concerns;
• Help teams interact and learn from each other’s cultures and values;
• Develop advanced engineering skills, making the participants more employable and entrepreneurial; and
• Encourage participants to establish technology based start-ups, thus contributing in economic independence and creating more employment opportunities.

Arrangements:

5.  Nodal agencies will be identified in all ten ASEAN Member States to coordinate for smooth flow of the events. The nodal agencies can be universities, governing or regulatory bodies etc that will assist in:

1. Identifying potential participants from their countries;
2. Inviting officials and delegates from their country for ASEAN-India Hackathon 2020;
3. Information exchange to relevant stakeholders;
4. Identifying and Finalizing Problem Statements;
5. Identifying mentors which are experts from academia and industry for the Hackathon;
6. Communication, Management and Coordination with all the stakeholders from their country for organising webinars, conferences etc. as a part of the Hackathon;
7. Any other help the executive committee may find necessary;

6.  ASEAN Member States and Indian Missions to popularize the Hackathon.

Methodology

7.       The methodology can be summarized as follows:

1. The ASEAN-India Hackathon is proposed to be organised online using digital collaboration platform. The Hackathon would continue non-stop for 36 hours through an online platform based on the problem statements identified.
2. Problem statements will be picked from the emerging themes of social relevance.
3. All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Ministry of Human Resource Development Innovation Cell (MIC) will coordinate with nodal agencies of ASEAN countries to identify the problem statements. The committee members from India and ASEAN countries will select the final problem statements.
4. A committee of experts drawn from industry and academia would be formed to uate the problem statements shared by all the countries through their Foreign Ministries.
5. The Hackathon in India would be organized in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Principal Scientific Advisor’s Office, Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), AICTE and MHRD’s Innovation Cell (MIC).
6. Awareness sessions/ workshops / webinars would be conducted for all participating students who register for the Hackathon through online video conferencing mode. The participants would be explained the complexities, dependencies and impacts of problem statements before they submit their ideas.
7. Outreach to students about the Hackathon could be made through the nodal agencies identified in each of the 10 ASEAN countries. In India, it will be done through social media, radio and other means by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). The participants will be given e-certificates after the Finale.
8. Students/Teams would submit their ideas in the form of presentations and preliminary Proof of Concept to support their designs/Ideas.
9. A maximum of 55 teams can participate in this Hackathon and each team will comprise of 6 students and 2 mentors. Each team will consist of students from at least 3-4 countries who will work in a collaborative manner and get rich exposure and experience, not only about Online hackathon, but culture, work practices from different countries. Considering these modalities, we will have 30 students and 10 mentors participating from each ASEAN countries.
10. The problem statements under the selected themes will be decided later with mutual consultations. Each problem statement will be shared with a minimum 2 teams.
11. The Grand Finale for non-stop 36 hours will be organized over suitable online platform.
12. Top 3 winning teams will be awarded with prize money.
13. The Hackathon would have a schedule, which includes scheduled time for hackathon inauguration and valedictory sessions, time for uation sessions etc. all through online platform.
14. The Hackathon is proposed to be held on 24 November 2020.

ASEAN-India Hackathon 2020

Proposed Themes:       1) Blue Economy 2) Agriculture 3) Tourism 4) Healthcare and Biomedical Devices 5) Environment 6) Education 7) Smart cities and campuses 8) Start-up and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

Technology Needed:    To be decided based on the Problem Statements and themes.

Venue for Grand Finale: Online Hackathon through a digital coding platform.

Date                               Event Dates: 24^th Nov

                                                  Prize Announcement on 27^th Nov 2020.

Team formation:           Up to a total 5 teams per track, with each team comprising 6 students from any of the 10 ASEAN countries and India, along with 2 mentors. Considering these requirements, we will have 30 students and 10 mentors from each of the ASEAN countries. Teams for the hackathon will be formed including students and mentors from various countries to work in a collaborative manner through an online platform.

Identification of

Students:                       30 students and 10 mentors shall be identified

                                      by each country

Duration:                       36 Hours non-stop online competition with                                                   intermittent breaks, Yoga, Zumba, Exercise

Objective:                      To come-up with innovative solutions, opportunity for start-ups, collaborative research

          Prize money:        Total: INR 50,00,000

For present calculation, we used 1USD= 75 Rs. The actual Prize Money is Rs. 49.5 Lakh but considering the fluctuation in international currency rate, we are keeping buffer of Rs. 50,000 to accommodate this fluctuation.