December 17, 2019 Implementation of 2019 Geospatial Hackers Program, including Hackathons to Expand the Base of Human Resources Capable of Utilizing Geospatial Information

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will hold this fiscal year’s hands-on workshops towards an expansion of the base of human resources capable of utilizing geospatial information (G-spatial information) for the resolution of regional issues and revitalization of regional economies, followed by four regional hackathons. Furthermore, MIC will hold a briefing session in Tokyo for the presentations of excellent hackathon participants in each region and their commendations.

1. Purpose

MIC is promoting the utilization of G-spatial information. As a part of its promotion, MIC implemented a geospatial hackers program in the last fiscal year, which was an integral program to open hands-on workshops towards an expansion of the base of human resources capable of utilizing geospatial information (G-spatial information) for the resolution of regional issues and revitalization of regional economies, followed by three regional hackathons in Fukui, Hyogo, and Yamaguchi.

Following the last year’s geospatial hackers program, MIC has decided to hold this fiscal year’s geospatial hackers program in four regions (Aichi, Toyama, Tokyo, and Okinawa) to expand the base of further human resource development and hold a briefing session in Tokyo for the presentations of excellent hackathon participants in each region and their commendations.

• *
  Hackathon

  A design sprint-like event, in which engineers, designers, planners, and others form a team, bring in each one’s technology and idea for a given theme, concentrate on a short period (about one day to one week), develop services, systems, applications, etc. and compete with other teams.

• *
  Hands-on workshop

  A workshop in which participants learn basic knowledge and skills necessary for hackathons while moving their hands and experiencing, usually done before a hackathon.

2. Hackathons and relevant events held in respective regions

1. Geospatial Hackers Program in Tokai

• Date: Saturday, February 1 and Sunday, February 2, 2020
• Venue: Yahoo Japan Corporation’s Nagoya Office
  (50F JR Central Towers, 1-1-4 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi)

2. Geospatial Hackers Program in Hokuriku

• Date: Saturday, February 8 and Sunday, February 9, 2020
• Venue: Tenjinyama Exchange Center of Shinkawa Learning Forest
  (147-1 Tenjinnoshin, Uozu-shi, Toyama)

3. Geospatial Hackers Program in Kanto

• Date: Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16, 2020
• Venue: Open Collaboration Space LODGE of Yahoo Japan Corporation
  (17F Kioi Tower, Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho, 1-3 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

4. Geospatial Hackers Program in Okinawa

• Date: Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23, 2020
• Venue: Startup Lab Lagoon
  (1-7-8 Chuo, Okinawa-shi, Okinawa)

• *
  All people, including students, are welcome, provided that they are interested in utilizing G-space information and programming, and can participate for two days in principle.
• *
  In each region, a hands-on workshop will be held on the first day, and a hackathon will be held on the second day.
• *
  The dates and locations of hackathons in each region are current plans.

3. Overview of briefing session

MIC will hold a briefing session in Tokyo for the presentations of excellent hackathon participants in each region and their commendations.
The participation of companies and organizations are welcome if they are interested in utilizing G-space information and developing human resources.

• Date: Friday, March 13, 2020
• Venue: SENQ Kasumigaseki
  (2F Nittochi Building, 1-4-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

• *
  The date and place of the debriefing session are subject to change.