Overview of the challenge

UNESCO is, in partnership with and support of several other organizations, introducing the TechCul Initiative to convene tech and culture leaders and connect them with startups and entrepreneurs to develop ground-breaking digital solutions and win-win business models to address challenges confronted by the culture and creative sector, especially in the face of COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, if you are in the target region for this competition, create teams, generate solutions for the culture and creative sector, and pitch it to UNESCO, business partners, and investors! Then win up to 5,000 USD prize.

Details

Organizer: UNESCO

Target region: Asia-Pacific

Prizes

There are different types of prizes awarded to winners, and, in addition to in-kind prizes, winners will enjoy technical support, mentoring, and investment by UNESCO and its partners. Also, you will receive a digital certificate.

A) Jury Choice

Number: 2

Value: 4,000 USD

By: British Council

Additional benefit: mentorship support from UK experts. 

1. B) Frontier Solutions

Number: 3

Amount: 2,000 USD

1. C) Innovative Ideas

Number: 4

Value: 1,000 USD

D) Laos National Prize

Number: 1

VALUE: 5,000 USD

Awarding body: Elevations Laos.

Eligibility: At least one Lao member in the team.

Thai National Prizes

Fast Track Incubation Support (Several prizes are available).

India National Prizes

Incubation Support and Mentorship (Several prizes are available).

Presenter: UNESCO

UNESCO TechCul Challenges

Entrants can choose one of the below themes to develop their solutions and focus on their answers.

1. Diversify Income

How to create more differentiated and strong income streams?

2. Expand Access

How to multiply access to arts, cultural heritage, and creative goods and services?

3. Improve Networking and Cooperation

How to foster networking and collaboration among culture, creative, business, and tech sectors?

4. Upgrade Knowledge Management

How to promote knowledge management and utilize data for more knowledgeable decision/policymaking?

5. Safeguard Cultural Heritage

How to ensure the cultural legacy is safeguarded more effectively and comprehensively?

6. Connect To Resources

How to facilitate cultural and creative experts and organizations’ access to resources?

7. Enhance Capacity

How to strengthen training and education to underpin culture and creative professionals and consumers?

Evaluation criteria

UNESCO’s selection team will assess your solution against the following criteria. Your solutions should address or more of the TechCul Challenges while being evident and tangible ones.

• Relevance
• Business potential
• Solution design
• Technical execution
• Scalability
• Collaboration
• Inclusiveness (an advantage)

Challenge timeline

6 December 2020: Ideathon Online Event

7 December 2020, 3:00 PM Bangkok Time (CET+7): Submission Deadline for Refined Ideas

12 December 2020: Announcement of Finalist Pitch Teams

20 December 2020: Distribution of Digital Certificates

Mid-January 2021: UNESCO TechCul Pitch Event

2021 Onwards: Prototyping and Incubation of Winners in Collaboration with UNESCO and Partners

How to participate in the challenge?

Applicants can participate in the challenge by submitting their solution(s)/ideas online.

What to submit: Please submit your ideas, videos, and presentations before the deadline!

Submit here.

To complete your participation and qualify for the prize, you should take three steps as follows:

• Sign up for the ideation_ fill the registration form and attend the event on 6^th]
• Participate in Ideathon Online Event, and Team Up_ participate in the online event. Learn about design thinking in a workshop, form teams with other participants, together develop a project idea, and receive feedback.
• Join Online Pitch Event as Finalist and Win Fabulous Prizes_ After the submission of ideas, the UNESCO selection team chooses the finalist teams.

You may also go through the UNESCO website for more details of the TechCul Challenge.