The U.S Department of Commerce (USDOC) is partnering with the DOC National Institute of Standards and Technology Public Safety Communications Research Division on the Tech to Protect Challenge in honor of national preparedness month. The project challenges coders to design communications technology solutions that will aid emergency responders such as EMS, firefighters, and law enforcement around the country.
Across the nation, the First Responder Network Authority (part of USDOC) will hold 10 regional code-a-thons for in person coding events, as well as an online contest that enables students, researchers, inventors, and many others to participate regardless of tech experience. Participants will have the opportunity to win cash prizes from a pool of $2.2 million and have their solution deployed around the nation to aid first responders and save lives.
Developers have the opportunity to create mobile apps, software applications, data systems and more. The Network Authority also encourages public safety experts to apply by submitting their own solutions to the coding contests or serving as a knowledge resource or a review of solutions at events near them.
The first round of in-person code-a-thons took place in September in Chicago, Texas, Denver, Pittsburgh, and D.C. The second round will be held in Los Angeles, NYC, Miami, San Francisco, and Seattle on November 1-3. Online submissions accepted through November 15.
Register here for upcoming events.
