Dubai: The UAE Government launched the World GovTechioneers Race to encourage government bodies to adopt emerging technologies.
The competition also aims to motivate bodies to develop their partnerships in offering smart and innovative solutions for joint global challenges.
The results of the competition will be announced during the next edition of the World Government Summit, which is due to be held in February 2017. The race includes three awards — Best m-Government service Award, Blockchain Virtual GovHack, and Best Government Emerging Technologies Award.
The Blockchain Virtual GovHack is a global virtual competition that recognises innovative applications that revolutionise digital interactions between individuals and companies. This category is for applications created by university students or companies from all around the world. The first place winner will be awarded $100,000 (Dh376,310), second place will be awarded $30,000 and third place $10,000.
The Best Government Emerging Technologies Award will honour governments that tried and tested emerging technologies in the field of government services with high efficiency. These tests must prove with clear results that the tests have provided added value to governmental work and people’s lives.
The fourth edition of the Best m-Government service Award will provide a challenge for governments around the world, in which they will compete in nine different categories that include health, education, social affairs, transport, infrastructure, environment, tourism, security and safety, economy, trade, and one stop app. The award’s focus will be to honour best applications that contributed to changing people’s lives and provide a boost to governmental work through the use of smart apps.
More details concerning the competition are available on GovTechioneersRace.com, @GovTechioneers and #GovTechioneers on Twitter.
Hessa Eisa Bu Humaid, assistant to the director-general for Government Services and Leadership at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, said that the competition embodies the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in ushering in the future, boosting innovation and encouraging innovators in the technology sector in the UAE and around the world.
