Winners of the first UNESCO TechCul Ideathon propose new tech innovations for boosting culture and creative enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region
Teams from around the Asia-Pacific region were recognized by UNESCO during its first TechCul Ideathon for proposing cutting-edge digital solutions to overcome challenges in the culture and creative sector.
A total of 443 participants from 34 countries signed up for the Ideathon Online Event on 6 December 2020 organized by UNESCO and FOSSASIA, a non-profit focused on open source software and open hardware. Other teams worked on virtual stage platforms, applications to map local culture, and cultural appreciation and education apps, among others.
“With the new challenges the creative sector across the world has faced in 2020, TechCul is a great way to foster innovative ideas and digital solutions from the grassroots,” said Jury member Roxana Apostol, Programme Manager at the British Council.
The Roots Routes team from Thailand was the crowd favorite, garnering prizes from the British Council, International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (ICHCAP), and Tencent, as well as startup support from Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency and the National Innovation Agency. A collective team from Hong Kong SAR, China, pitched an online platform to connect culture enthusiasts with rural villagers through interactive workshops about local know-how. Through UNESCO’s TechCul initiative, we create opportunities for traditional arts to embrace digital concepts to increase cultural reach,” commented Jury member Michael MacDonald, Chief Digital Officer at Huawei Technologies.
The winning teams will receive a range of prizes, including cash, tech gadgets, cloud storage, mentoring, and incubation support by UNESCO and prestigious partners.
