Social Hackathon Umbria 2021: the annual appointment for digital co-creation kicks off!

Social Hackathon Umbria 2021 kicks off!  

The digital marathon will be held in Colfiorito in collaboration with FAO and Fertitecnica.  

Social Hackathon Umbria 2021 kicks off. The digital marathon dedicated to sustainability will begin today in the spectacular setting of the Colfiorito Natural Park and will continue until Sunday 4th July. The choice of Colfiorito as the venue for the event is anything but casual, as the goal is to put the town with its natural, cultural and economic resources at the center of the activities.  

After a year of stop, due to the pandemic, the annual appointment of digital co-creation is back. On the occasion of its 5th anniversary, the Social Hackathon Umbria wants to expand by focusing the digital challenges on the 17 UN goals for sustainable development and choosing an area of ​​Foligno that is a real natural heritage as the site of its activities. The official launch of the event will be the presentation of the projects to be developed which by the hackathon teams which will be held on Thursday 1 July at 6 pm.  

In support of this event organized by EGInA, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Fertitecnica Colfiorito will be present. 

 As for every edition, #SHU2021 consists in a 48 hour Hackathon which will see experts and young apprentices grappling with challenges and looking for brilliant and innovative technological solutions. However, this is not an event for experts only, as there will also be workshops, exhibitions, events and laboratories for kids open to all and free of charge during the 4 days event.  

The competition focuses four thematic areas: #zerohunger, #zerowaste, #zeroimpact, #zeroignorance. For each area, SHU’s organizers have selected two ideas that will be developed by 8 teams each one led by an experienced team manager. During the 48 hours of Hackathon the teams will create a prototype or a product to be presented to an international jury. 

The initiative, promoted by the European Grants International Academy Srl (EGInA Srl), a training agency in Foligno and a consultancy firm in the field of European funding, has involved a growing number of participants in the last four years. “We are kicking off confidently and with high-profile collaborations - declares Altheo Valentini (EGInA Srl). ´Thanks to the network we have built over years of projects and work in schools. The Social Hackathon Umbria is an important appointment for our path, and it includes training, capacity building and networking activities" he adds.

FAO and Fertitecnica Colfiorito have believed from the very beginning in the realization of this event in Colfiorito.

"Unlike most hackathons, which are usually aimed at IT experts and base their marketing strategy on the availability of cash rewards or access to business acceleration programs, a social hackathon is characterized by the leadership and the collaboration between people who have a low level of digital skills and who participate in the hackathon with different roles, but all with the expectation of learning new skills while having fun and contributing to the development of a digital solution with social impact´explains Annamaria Pastore, FAO Private Sector Partnerships officer.

Building on a shared goal with the company to promote access to the market for smallholder farmers, where economic conditions, social disadvantage and poor access to knowledge are obstacles they cannot overcome on their own, FAO will participate in the hackathon jury, with the presence of the Blockchain expert Erik VanIngen, during the seminary of Saturday 3 July, as well as in the promotion of the winner project for the 'Best project for sustainable development' category.  

 “Our peer-to-peer collaboration with FAO aims to promote growth for all, based on the creation of value, structured in the following four points: cause related marketing; research and innovation; sharing of knowledge in order to develop the skills of small producers as well as promotion and communication to raise awareness on the issues of food loss and waste´ underlines Alessio Miliani, General Manager of Fertitecnica Colfiorito. ´We have always recognized the central role that young people play in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and we want to encourage their impact. We therefore strongly wanted to use this social hackathon, including it within the Memorandum of Understanding with FAO because we think that this is a perfect platform to make new generations’ voices heard on topics that are so important for our planet and where they can make an effective contribution". 

 “These goals - says Erik VanIngen, FAO Digital Advisor and member of the jury - represent universal and inclusive trends that reflect the main development challenges for humanity, and which are at the heart of FAO's mandate. Through our joint work, we are working towards the achievement of the sustainable development goals identified by the UN to ensure sustainable, peaceful and prosperous livelihoods for all, now and for future generations”.  

The contribution of all the technical sponsors is also fundamental to ease the management of the event. Connesi, digital partner, renews its support for the event also this year, providing the challengers with the best possible connection in the venues of the event, guaranteeing speed, safety and continuity of service necessary to carry out the group work aimed at creating in 48 hours the best project for sustainable development. "It is with pleasure that we confirm our support for the Social Hackathon Umbria 202, making available as a digital partner, all technological tools needed to allow youth to learn new skills during the challenge and communicate effectively their solutions in response to the Agenda 2030 action program” explains Nicolò Bartolini, Connesi Commercial Director. ´Today, being able to live and work in places that were considered periphery has become a choice based on sustainability, authenticity, quality of life. Through our own infrastructures, we intervene in historical villages and peripheral areas, significantly increasing access to the means of communication and information.´ 

Connesi is also committed to making its contribution to achieving objective 9 defined by the UN, to promote innovation and the digitization of economic and social production processes. 

To discover the complete SHU program and register for free activities, visit the website www.socialhackathonumbria.info.