- The Hackathon will take place online from 11 to 30 October 2024.
- More than 400 participants have already registered.
- The theme will focus on Earth Observation data for disaster risk reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Panama City, 14 October 2024. The CopernicusLAC Panama Centre kicked off its first online Hackathon focused on Copernicus Earth Observation (EO) data for disaster risk reduction (DRR) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Co-organised by the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), the Hackathon will foster innovation, strengthen capacities, promote collaboration, and raise awareness of the importance of Copernicus EO data in addressing regional environmental and socio-economic challenges.
During the inaugural event, attendees were treated to keynote speeches by Dr. Itziar Alonso, European Space Agency (ESA) Manager of CopernicusLAC Panama, Mr. Gustavo Herrera, Coordinator for Social Development of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), and Mr. Javier Arregui, Representative of the Delegation of the European Union in Panama.
Dr. Alonso said: “One of the fundamental pillars of the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre is skills and knowledge transfer, as well as the co-development of services with local stakeholders. With this event, we aim to increase the resilience of the countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region”.
For his part, the SELA Coordinator for Social Development, Gustavo Herrera, on behalf of the Permanent Secretariat of the organisation, highlighted the importance of this activity as a “contribution to Latin America and the Caribbean” in the area of disaster risk management, an issue included in SELA’s Work Programme for 2022-2026.
He also highlighted the contributions of CopernicusLAC and ESA in relation to Earth Observation, and emphasised that this first Hackathon “is the beginning of continued development of new ideas and initiatives” for the growth and development of Latin America and the Caribbean.
In addition to the opening remarks, Claudia Herrera, Stakeholder Liaison Officer of the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre, said: “Participants are contributing to the construction of an Earth Observation network, a scientific, academic and institutional community dedicated to research, exchange of capacities, experience and technology. These efforts are key to addressing the gaps and challenges we face in disaster risk reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean, thus contributing to a more resilient future”.
To complete the first day, a panel of regional experts including representatives from RedClara, the Huairou Commission, Telespazio and the Chilean Space Association (ACHIDE) was formed. Facilitators from the company Novaspace provided the details of the Hackathon to the participants, who for the next 19 days will have the opportunity to receive mentoring sessions while engaging in 3 thematic challenges:
- Ensuring food production and distribution
- Improving forecasting and preparedness for future disasters
- Preserving biodiversity and endangered habitats
The 3 best solutions will receive cash prizes, with the first prize being $5,000, the second $2,000, and the third team winning $1,000. The names and projects of the winning teams will be announced at the closing ceremony on 30 October at 12 pm.
About the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre
The Copernicus LAC Panama Centre’s activities take place within the overall context of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, which is a strategic framework for promoting cooperation between the EU and the LAC region on digital and space issues under the EU Global Gateway umbrella. Within this context, the European Space Agency (ESA) is coordinating the Centre’s implementation on the basis of a Contribution Agreement with the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission, and in close collaboration with Panama’s government, MIRE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Government Innovation Authority (AIG), and SENACYT (National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation).
About the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA)
The Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) is a regional intergovernmental organization, created on October 17, 1975, through the Panama Convention, constitutive of the Latin American Economic System (SELA), composed of 25 Latin American and Caribbean countries; aimed at promoting a system of consultation and coordination to coordinate common positions and strategies in economic matters, before countries, groups of nations, forums and international organizations and to promote cooperation and integration among Latin American and Caribbean countries.