Innovative thinkers are being challenged to come up with solutions to help improve the lives of people living in Edinburgh with an icebreaker event on 5 September followed by a Hack Day in October.
Edinburgh Apps, run by City of Edinburgh Council, pits teams and individuals against one another to create fresh and creative concepts using Council and partner data.
Launched in 2013, the event offered winners business support and the opportunity to work with the Council to develop their concepts further.
Now the competition will return for a second year, in partnership with Transport for Edinburgh, and will centre on two themes: Health and Culture and Sport.
Designers, developers, start-up businesses and other entrants will be able to use data provided to create apps, websites or other concepts. Ideas should either help citizens live healthy and independent lives or encourage interest and participation in culture and sport.
This year’s Edinburgh Apps will launch on 5th September with an Ice Breaker evening at the School of Informatics Forum, where anyone interested in entering will hear more information about the challenge and themes.
Participants will then be given seven weeks to work on their ideas before presenting them at a judging and awards event on 26th October. A series of drop-in sessions will be run during this period to allow competitors to discuss their entries further.
Councillor Alasdair Rankin, the city’s Finance & Resources Convener, said: “Technology is key to creating a thriving, equal society and events like these show the multitude of ways we can harness its benefits.
“We were incredibly impressed by the range and quality of entries in 2013 and I look forward to seeing what this year’s entries have to offer.”
Organisers are hoping to attract a similar calibre of entries to last year’s Edinburgh Apps, which was won by Joint Equipment Store, an app that helps Council lorries operate more efficiently, and Trashman, another app helping the public to locate their nearest recycling bank.
Thanks to the competition these apps are now due for release by the Council in October.
Edinburgh Apps also ran an interim Hackathon in June, when participants were challenged to use data from the Council, Scottish Government and other partners to come up with solutions to improve road safety.
If you are interested in taking part in this event, visit the EdinburghApps website and register on the event page or email edinburghapps@edinburgh.gov.uk
