The region-wide coding competition, supported by APEC, The Asia Foundation, and Google, will be held on April 18-19 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, on the sidelines of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting.
In accordance with the priority area selected by Malaysia for APEC 2020, Inclusive Economic Participation through Digital Economy and Technology, participants in the competition will be required to build innovative mobile apps and platforms that empower the aging society and enrich their lives.
"The competition is designed to encourage new ideas and innovative thinking around an important challenge facing the Asia-Pacific region: how to allow for adoption of technology among aging populations to enable them to connect, create, and contribute amid rapid economic and technological changes," Hairil Yahri Yaacob, chair of the 2020 APEC Senior Officials, remarked.
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The Asia Foundation’s senior director for technology, John Karr, explained that the proportion of APEC’s population aged 65 years and above will increase, from some 10 percent in 2017 to 25 percent by 2050.
"New technologies, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, are creating new jobs but simultaneously making many others obsolete," Karr pointed out.
Participants will have just 24 hours in Kota Kinabalu to complete their products, after which they will pitch in their ideas to a panel of judges. Winners will receive cash prizes and other exciting opportunities.
As the 2020 host economy, Malaysia is eyeing to promote and mainstream efforts across the APEC fora to leverage technology and policies that benefit the region’s growing senior community.
To join the APEC App Challenge, interested developers should submit an application form reflecting their technical competence, entrepreneurial drive, and communication abilities.
Teams of two individuals will be invited to join the competition, and travel and lodging expenses will be fully covered. Applicants should be citizens and current residents of APEC member economies.
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Reporter: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Sri Haryati
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