Friday July 12, 2024
Participants, Students, Judges, Facilitators and sponsors of the HACK4CHANGE Challenge at the launching of the Program at UNITECH, Lae
The PNG Department of Information and Communications Technology, in its efforts in promoting digital skills for a thriving digital economy and its commitment to creating a well-informed citizenry, the PNG supported the HACK4CHANGE program ICT Challenge. This initiative, organized by the PNG Digital ICT Cluster in collaboration with the PNG University of Technology (PNG UoT), aligns with DICT’s mission of bridging the gap between government and the people through information and communication technologies.
The bi-annual ICT Challenge program was launched today and focused on “Readiness for Green Financing.” The event, which runs from July 12th to 15th, aims to bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, and students to develop solutions that address environmental and social challenges using information and communication technologies (ICTs).
Mr Russell Harada, Director of ICT for PNG UNITECH explained that the “HACK4CHANGE” is an inclusive program open to a wide range of participants, including students, entrepreneurs, and established businesses. Teams will compete to develop solutions that promote sustainable development and green financing initiatives, aligning with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event highlights the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in fostering innovation. Professor Ora Renagi, Vice Chancellor of PNG UoT, emphasized this point in his keynote address, stating, “I hope you are challenged now to use ICT technology to improve society. We’ve partnered with the University of New South Wales, and they ensure that technology impacts society.”
The Hackathon’s theme, “Readiness for Green Financing – Be the Problem Solver. Hack for Change,” reflects Papua New Guinea’s commitment to a sustainable future. Ms. Georgina Kiele, Executive Manager for Cyber Security and Digital Government Standards at the PNG Department of ICT (a Platinum Sponsor), addressed the importance of ethical hacking in securing digital infrastructure, a crucial aspect of building a robust digital economy. “The department of ICT functions to create a well-informed digital society by bringing government closer to the people, thus supporting this program ensures that we strengthen the participants’ digital skills and add value to Digital Economy for PNG.”
Associate Professor Raula Gaikovina Kula of Japan’s NARA Institute of Science and Technology, attending via zoom, shared valuable insights from his experience in Japan. He highlighted the importance of adapting technology to suit local contexts, stating, “PNG can also do the same, tailor technologies to conform to Papua New Guinean standards, which will allow us not to lose our culture.”
Introducing the participants to the Hackathon program, the ICT Cluster Vice President International Ms. Pricilla Kevin encouraged them to contribute meaningfully to real workd problems in this program. “Don’t think that you are wasting your time here, you are here to champion the change,” Ms Kevin stated.
The Hackathon benefits from the support of numerous sponsors, including the PNG Department of ICT, ICTSI South Pacific, PNG University of Technology, Center for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI), Bank South Pacific (BSP), NAIST, SME Corporation, NIU PAY, AWS, National ICT Authority (NICTA), and Telikom PNG Limited.