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FAQ 2018 Blue Flame Challenge
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F R E Q U E N T LY ASKED QUESTIONS
F r e q u e n t ly A s k e d Q u e s t i o n s
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1 Challenge? What is the Blue Flame
Challenges are based on the premise
“Young minds are not vessels to be filled, but fires to be ignited”
that,
-Alexander Pope
The Blue Flame Challenge is an annual feature of Innovate Barbados, focused on a call to imagine and create better futures. The hottest part of a flame is the blue core –where talent and passion intersect. Blue Flame
The 2018 Challenge With corporate sponsors IBM on board, the 2018 Challenge features multidisciplinary, creative, talented and visionary teams working to find solutions around export and foreign sales challenges through artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Over the course of eight weeks, Challengers can receive free AI training, participate in a Hackathon and refine creative solutions with the help of valuable industry mentors.
2018 Blue Flame Challenge
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DO I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO
2 CODE? 3
WHAT TECHNOLOGIES ARE BEING USED IN THE BLUE FLAME CHALLENGE?
Teams are multidisciplinary with
The BIDC will be working with IBM
roles for coding, business and design.
and its cloud-based next generation
Skills in any one of these areas are an
technologies as the core assets to
advantage. As the developer for your
run the Blue Flame Challenge and
team in the Hackathon you should
Hackathon. These include IBM’s
have basic coding skills - some front-
assets for artificial intelligence
end work and the ability to build a
(or cognitive computing), namely
basic website.
Watson.
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Teams that present a good balance of coding, design and business skills are given priority. Individual entrants and incomplete teams may be assigned to
HOW ARE PARTICIPANTS
form teams on a suitability and first come, first serve basis. Developers are
SELECTED? 2018 Blue Flame Challenge
given priority for the purpose of the Hackathon.
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WHERE WILL THE
BLUE FLAME HACKATHON BE HELD?
Some aspects of the Challenge allow for remote participation while some, like the Meet & Greet and Hackathon, are live. All live sessions will be held at Suite 202, Building #2, Harbour Industrial Estate (the white building on the corner opposite Oran Ltd. and Chefette Restaurants along Harbour Road).
6 DEVICES 7 WINNERS WHAT
HOW ARE
ARE REQUIRED?
DECLARED?
We ask that you BYOD (Bring
A panel of judges, including executives
Your Own Device). Challengers
from IBM, BIDC and industry players, will
are asked to bring their
evaluate your solution. Judging criteria
laptops to access IBM’s suite
will be shared with all registrants of the
of services and develop their
Challenge prior to the Hackathon.
software solutions as part of the The teams with the highest score per
challenge.
challenge area at the Hackathon will be declared the winner of that challenge
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The Event 7 HOW ARE WINNERS DECLARED? area and automatically advance to the
winner is selected from the Hackathon
refinement phase. Special mention teams
teams who advance and create the best
may also be given the opportunity to
solution after the refinement phase. The
advance to the refinement phase. The
ultimate Challenge winner also gains
team with the highest overall score will
the opportunity to engage in a further
be declared the Hackathon winner, but
relationship with the BIDC’s Bajans
not the ultimate challenge winner.
Connect Campaign.
The ultimate Blue Flame Challenge
8 after?
what happens
what about
ip?
Your intellectual property belongs to
a strategic partner with Bajans Connect.
you. There are many paths forward for
You could register a company or pursue
implementing your solution, including
opportunities with an existing company
but not limited to the following:
and benefit from business and design support that the BIDC offers to developing
Your solution could become a part of
businesses.
the BIDC’s Bajans Connect campaign through engagement with the BIDC. Your team or company could become
2018 Blue Flame Challenge
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ai & Exports? why
As the premiere export support organization in Barbados, the BIDC is leading the charge with an integrated export marketing campaign called Bajans Connect*. Based on research and fuelled by creativity, Bajans Connect uses digital platforms and solutions to support export growth to diaspora communities.
Research and insights show that • The diaspora can be a key export market
have become critical elements of doing business today.
to target, not only for a sales base but as a strategy for market penetration that can lead to financial growth.
• First impressions are 94% design-related. 1
• Many Barbadians abroad seek out goods,
• Challenges surrounding exports provide
experiences and connections from home.
opportunities for innovative solutions that can be internationally competitive when combined with AI, blockchain, design and technology.
• Innovative strategies, technology and
approaches focused on user experiences
* Bajans Connect is an integrated export marketing campaign, information portal and gateway to Bajan lifestyle, products and everything Barbadian, designed to encourage Barbadians and people with Barbadian roots across the diaspora to markedly increase their purchases of Barbadian goods and services.
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https://www.invisionapp.com/blog/statistics-onuser-experience/ as sourced from https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/221516871_Trust_and_mistrust_of_ online_health_sites 1
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Bidc ibm?
why &
The BIDC has partnered with IBM on the Challenge to help achieve its strategic goals to: • Promote innovation as a key
• Deepen the start-up culture and
mechanism for economic diversification
promote dynamic funding and market
and social transformation;
entry/exports;
• Facilitate the harmonization and
• Be a catalyst for innovative thinking
alignment of the policy environment
across productive sectors in Barbados.
and entrepreneurial development;
In addition, the Blue Flame Challenge provides the BIDC with a unique opportunity to introduce local talent to IBM’s cloud- based, next generation technologies, giving developers exposure, training and support in the use of tools that can be used to build solutions that have a national and international impact.
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why run the
Blue flame challenge?
One of the BIDC’s aims is to encourage
talent in Barbados and tap their
the development and implementation of
experience and know-how to build
innovative solutions to Barbados’ biggest
practical solutions while supporting
problems. The challenges are real. The
the growth of Barbadian software
solutions are real. Innovations that could
development and start-up communities.
drive growth for export-ready businesses
Through the Challenge, the BIDC hopes
throughout Barbados and potentially the
to contribute to building out the local
region are waiting to be discovered!
developer ecosystem, while offering access to networks and business and
The BIDC seeks to identify developer
technology mentoring.
Visit
www.innovatebarbados.com/blueflamechallenge to gain more information and register as a participant in the 2018 BlueFlame Challenge.
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