Doha: International Telecom Union (ITU) yesterday launched the fourth edition of its ‘Young Innovators’ competition, seeking out talented young thinkers and social technopreneurs across the globe, and encouraging them to showcase their innovative ideas at the ITU Telecom World 2014 event in Doha in December.
The annual competition, launched in 2010, offers young people the chance to take part in workshops on entrepreneurial skills, opportunities to meet and network with leading ICT players, and showcase their projects at the Innovation Space, a show floor pavilion at ITU Telecom World.
“I am delighted to announce the first challenge of the latest edition of the ITU Telecom World 2014 Young Innovators Competition,” said Dr Hamadoun Toure, Secretary-General, ITU.
“Last year’s competition brought us inspirational concepts and projects from innovative young people around the world, all of which had significant potential social impact and impressive business potential.”
The first challenge of the 2014 edition focuses on ‘Local Digital Content’.
Open to 18-30-year-old start-up founders from ITU’s 193 member states, the competition is looking for the most promising tech start-ups inspiring the creation, aggregation or digitisation of dynamic local content, particularly in non-Latin scripts.
“We are excited to support the first challenge in the competition,” said Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, CEO, Ooredoo Qatar.
“We know that new digital content can inspire people and open opportunities in their lives, and we believe that each and every market deserves relevant content in their own languages tailored to their interests.”
ITU has partnered with Ooredoo for the first challenge to encourage the development of local digital content
Entries can be submitted by start-ups involved in script content, resolving technical challenges of digitising non-Latin scripts through innovative technologies, or pinpointing fresh uses for older technologies, such as optical character recognition, voice recognition or translation software.
The Peninsula
