Smart Tourism

Issue: Due to COVID-19 tourism sector came to a standstill in the first half of 2020. Economies are now fighting to re-establish domestic travel as a measure assisting the industry to survive. Expected loses are enormous – in income, employment, skills. UNWTO identifies digital solutions in tourism as a key tool to support tourism industry recovery.

Response to the problem: We seek innovative ideas in spearhead digitalisation of tourism industry in the Western Balkans – solutions that would address major segments of promotion, product development and delivery, interpretation, visitor management, skills and learning.

Digital Learning Platform

Issue: The pandemic outbreak forced millions to replace their offices, work stations and classrooms with teleworking. This has underpinned the importance digital skills have in our daily life while at the same time showing a strong need for acquiring relevant digital skills in order to reap the benefits of digitalisation, navigate in digital platforms, use e-services widely, etc. The gap in basic digital skills of citizens at large (children, old people, vulnerable groups, young people, self-employed, etc.) is still present in Western Balkans and practical solutions to enable quick upgrade of skills may be helpful.

Response: We seek innovative ideas in addressing basic digital skills needs for citizens through the establishment of a dedicated digital learning platform (i.e. application, web solution, etc.)

Online Payment Solution

Issue: Despite growing levels of digital and internet-based financial services, high cash-use rates prevail across the region. While the lockdown was ongoing in the WB economies, we witnessed that digital payments became an issue in the whole region. Online payments were in high demand, but in some cases it was a challenge to buy essential goods. To respond to these needs both citizens and businesses are required to change attitudes and use online payments more frequently.

Response: We seek innovative solutions that may be applied for online payment providing secured digital identity that will encourage greater use of online payments through more secured tools.

Who can apply?

Everyone who has a great idea, vision and skills to develop digital solutions under the Balkathon topics, and is older than 18, is welcome to join: start-ups, digital innovation hubs, scientific parks, universities, SMEs, young individuals from all Western Balkans 6 that want to contribute and make an impact.

We encourage young people and small start-ups to apply in order to enhance and help their development in post-COVID19 period.

Participation is open to anyone interested from Western Balkans 6 regardless whether the invitation is received or not!

Note: Balkathon searches for digital solutions that are aplicable and that can be implemented in all Western Balkan economies.

When?

Registration starts on 1 July 2020 and ends on 12 July 12:00 (CET+1).

The Award Ceremony is on 16 July 2020.

Where?

Balkathon will take place online. The appropriate tools needed to facilitate the work of everyone involved will be provided. There will be live-streaming and webinars. For more information check out the Agenda.

Why?

Covid-19 has shown the need for greater use of digital technologies and a necessity for further development of digital solutions in many areas. New realities force people to work and learn online. During Covid-19, the focus has been on responding to the emerging short-term difficulties and many hackathons have been organised by European Commission, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and other international organisations, as well as some of WB economies. The RCC has decided to embark on this initiative and organise the first regional online competition on digital transformation to help develop smart solutions in different areas as part of the region’s recovery efforts. This competition will also serve as an impulse for different stakeholders from WB6 to work together on the identification of smart digital solutions and further development of digital transformation in the region.

Key Dates

1 July 2020, 12:00 (CET+1) – Opening of the registration process
12 July 2020, 12:00 (CET+1) – Closing of the registration process
13 July 2020 - All selected participants will receive confirmations during the day
14 July 2020 – Competition officially begins
14 July 2020 – Mentors are at participants’ disposal
15 July 2020 – Mentors are at participants’ disposal
16 July 2020 – Deadline for submission of digital solutions
16 July 2020 – Presentation of all digital solutions
16 July 2020 – Announcement of the winners and Awards Ceremony

Prizes

A prize of EUR 10,000 for the winning proposal of each of the three thematic groups will be provided by the RCC. The winning teams will sign the statement with the RCC which will define the details of implementation of their solutions and they will have the opportunity to promote their solutions in all relevant media.

How can I register?

The registration process will take place online from 1 July 2020, 12:00 (CET+1) until 12 July 2020, 12:00 (CET+1). Every participant will have the opportunity to register through the link www.rcc.int/balkathon

How can I submit my solution?

The solutions have to be submitted by the deadline for submission of digital solutions, on email balkathon[at]rcc.int, in English by 16 July 2020 as a presentation video (you can provide link to YouTube video which should not be longer than 3 min, otherwise it will not be evaluated), ppt, demo, prototype (depending on the solution proposed).

All information regarding the competition process will be provided to registered participants before competition begin.

Language

The official language of the Balkathon is English. To participate, you should understand and be able to communicate in English. The submissions of the solutions have to be in English too.

Support

There will be mentors with different knowledge backgrounds who will support you throughout the Balkathon. They will provide valuable tips and feedback. More information about the organisational structure will be provided at the beginning of the event.

Mentors

Mentors will be assigned based on the choice of topic during your registration. Mentors will be introduced to each group at the beginning of the Balkathon.

Evaluation Criteria

The main evaluation criteria are: impact potential, technical complexity, prototype completion, business case. Detailed information on the judging criteria will be provided at the beginning of the event.

Any specific requirements?

There is no maximum limit to the number of participants. Any start-up, digital innovation hub, scientific park, university, SME, young individual from all WB6 interested in digitization, smart solutions for concrete sectors/areas of interest, i.e. smart tourism, digital learning platform and new solutions in online payments, is welcomed to participate.

Individual or a team?

It is allowed to participate as an individual, as well as a representative team of start-up businesses, SMEs, ect., with a maximum of five members from the same organisation/business.

All registered individuals can not compete on their own, but need to form/create a team with another registered individuals, or to become a part of already registered team.

Additional information will be provided to registered individuals.