The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), has joined forces with the tech and startup community in the EMEA region to curb the spread of the coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic.
The agency supports the ‘Wild Card’ online hackathon that called teams from across EMEA region to build different components of a response system that helps people, businesses deal with the disruption.
The three-day hackathon running from the 27th to the 29th of March, was initiated by Robusta, an Egyptian tech & product agency, and many governmental agencies and private organizations along with a well-connected network of VCs, accelerators and community outreach partners have joined to try to take on the coronavirus and challenge its global impact.
More than 100 teams have Jumped in the movement so far and started working together with a focus on finding and developing innovative solutions to support the healthcare system, business continuity, and community wellbeing areas in which solutions will be prototyped.
For its part, ITIDA has decided to contribute to this initiative through offering up its facilities to support and serve all the winning teams or startups to develop, implement and fabricate their projects in its Electronics Innovation Complexes (EIC) located in 3 governorates including Cairo at the Smart Village, Alexandra’s Borg Al-Arab Tech Park, and Asyut’s Tech Park.
ITIDA’s EIC were set up under the national presidential initiative “Egypt Makes Electronics” (EME). The Innovation complex (EIC) has 4 integrated divisions that are well equipped with development kits, tools, electronics components, measurement equipment.
The winning teams will enjoy access to a set of tools that enable them to run PCB fabrication and assembly facilities up to 4 layers. Additionally, each complex is fully equipped with industrial grade digital fabrication facilities (FABLAB) for mockup & package prototype, along with a state of the art co-working space.
ITIDA will continue to support the winning teams to bring their prototypes to the next level through its portfolio of development programs and initiatives.
Yet, ITIDA is committed to remain consistent with the guidelines of the World Health Organizations (WHO) and the Egyptian Ministry of ‘s precautions and measures that ensure the workplace is safe and guarantee the safety of its employees and visitors.