ITU Telecom World launches 2014 Young Innovators Competition
Ooredoo partners with ITU for development of local digital content
Geneva, 8 April 2014 – ITU has launched the fourth edition
of its popular ‘Young Innovators’ competition, seeking out talented young
thinkers and social technopreneurs across the globe, and encouraging them to
showcase their innovative ideas at the upcoming
ITU Telecom World 2014
in Doha in December this year.
The annual competition, which was launched in 2010, offers young people the
chance to take part in workshops on entrepreneurial skills, opportunities to
meet and network with leading ICT players, and to showcase their projects at the
InnovationSpace, a dedicated show floor pavilion at ITU Telecom World.
The first challenge of the 2014 edition focuses on ‘Local Digital Content’.
Open to 18-30 year-old start-up founders from across ITU’s 193 member states,
the competition is looking for the most promising tech start-ups that are
inspiring the creation, aggregation or digitization of dynamic local content,
particularly in non-Latin scripts.
Entries can be submitted by start-ups that are involved in script content,
resolving the technical challenges of digitizing non-Latin scripts through
innovative technologies, or pinpointing fresh uses for older technologies, such
as optical character recognition, voice recognition or translation software.
ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Toure said, “I am delighted to announce the
first challenge of the latest edition of the ITU Telecom World 2014 Young
Innovators’ Competition. Last year’s competition brought us inspirational
concepts and projects from innovative young people around the world, all of
which had significant potential social impact and impressive business potential.
I look forward to exploring the latest innovations at ITU Telecom World 2014
this December in Doha.”
The first stage of the contest has been launched in partnership with Ooredoo,
which is supporting Qatar’s hosting of
ITU Telecom World 2014. With strong experience in
encouraging relevant local content and inspiring start-ups across the MENA
region and Asia, Ooredoo will provide invaluable support for the contest.
Sheikh Saud Bin Nasser Al Thani, CEO, Ooredoo Qatar, said, “We’re excited to
support this first challenge in the Young Innovators’ competition. We know that
new digital content can inspire people and open new opportunities in their
lives, and we believe strongly that each and every market deserves relevant
content in their own languages that is tailored to their interests.”
About the Competition
Two start-ups will be selected as winners of this challenge by a Selection
Committee of experts and invited to attend ITU Telecom World 2014.
At the event itself, selected Young Innovators will enjoy mentoring and
workshops on entrepreneurial skills, opportunities to meet and network with
leading ICT players, and the chance to showcase their projects at the
InnovationSpace, a dedicated show floor pavilion.
Prize money of up to USD 10,000 in the form of seed funding will be awarded
to implement and bring to scale winning start-ups. The competition will comprise
a number of different challenges, the first of which focuses on local digital
content.
The deadline for initial submissions is 30 May 2014, 24:00 GMT +2.
Visit https://ideas.itu.int/
for more information on the challenge and to apply or comment on submissions.
You can also visit the Young Innovators’ Facebook page or contact us directly at
young.innovators@itu.int.
ITU Telecom World 2014 will take place from 7-10 December 2014 in Doha,
Qatar. For more information on how you can be a part of this key event, visit
http://telecomworld.itu.int/
Note for media: Videos and photos of ITU Telecom World 2013 are
available.
Video:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpoIPNlF8P2PpyXYDRaWq57UMZ0MnIpX_
Photo:
www.flickr.com/photos/itupictures/collections/72157630527796340/