A hackathon is a design sprint-like event in which experts in a specific field (e.g. data analysts, app developers, entrepreneurs, as well as specialist in specific sectors, such as health, energy, clean-tech, etc.) and other relevant stakeholders work in teams to develop the best potential solution for a number of defined challenges.
These challenges are co-designed together by hackathon organisers with stakeholders during a collaborative and inclusive process, to enhance the buy-in, dissemination and uptake of the developed solution. They are also presented and clarified through specific training to the participants ahead of the hackathon, to ensure a level playing field. In their origin, hackathons were mainly focused on IT-related solutions, however, with time, they have also proved to be useful to provide solutions for a broad scope of various issues, going far beyond the digital ones.
The Data 4 Healthy Recovery hackathon will design innovative solutions to a number of selected challenges related to smart health.