XMG Studio and the Canadian Government Team Up To Host First National Open Data Hackathon: CODE
Poster: SySAdmin
Posted on January 9, 2014 at 2:35:01 PM
XMG Studio and the Canadian Government Team Up To Host First National Open Data Hackathon: CODE
The Canadian Open Data Experience (CODE) will challenge entrepreneurs
and innovators from coast to coast to create open data applications in
just 48 hours and compete for over $30,000 in prizes
TORONTO, Jan. 9, 2014 /CNW/ - Hosted by the creators of Canada's largest
competitive hackathon, XMG Studio Inc., and supported by the Government
of Canada, the Canadian Open Data Experience (CODE) aims to inspire an
entire generation of developers and designers to develop apps based on
open data. From February 28(th) to March 2(nd) creative do-ers, movers and shakers are invited to participate in this
race against the clock and liberate the data available on http://data.gc.ca. All teams that successfully submit an application compete for Gold
Sponsor OpenText's $25,000 Grand Prize, as well as a $5,000 second
place prize and a $1,000 third place prize.
"The potential economic impact of open data once innovators start
putting it to use and begin distributing their applications to the
public is immense," said Ray Sharma, President, mobile games developer
XMG Studio Inc. "The opportunity for developers is most obvious, but
the potential impact on Canadian citizens who stand to benefit from the
increased economic productivity is incredibly exciting."
To encourage the meaningful and productive use of the released datasets
CODE will begin with a day of inspirational quick-fire speeches from
renowned technology and open data industry leaders at the official CODE
VIP HUB in Toronto on February 28(th), 2014. The Inspiration Day will be live-streamed on the CODE website and will officially end with
the announcement of a theme that participants will need to adhere to in
order to guarantee all participants begin on common ground.
"Our Government is excited to see Government Open Data, a previously
untapped resource, fueling the development of apps that will help
Canadians in their day-to-day lives," said the Honourable Tony Clement,
President of the Treasury Board. "Innovations like the apps created at
CODE will ensure Canada remains at the forefront of the global Open
Data movement."
OpenText, Canada's largest software company, is providing the $40,000
Gold level sponsorship contribution to the event of which $25,000 will
go to the winning developer.
"OpenText's continuing commitment to innovation is in sync with the CODE
initiative and we are pleased to support application development for
the benefit of Canadians," said OpenText President and CEO Mark
Barrenechea. "We are inspiring application development through our
latest software development and hope to impact the opportunity for
innovation using government data sets that were previously
unavailable."
CODE is open to all who are interested in developing applications with
the goal of bettering the lives of Canadians, regardless of digital
prowess. The specially developed matchmaking tool on the CODE website
allows anyone to find the team members needed to take an idea from
concept to completion. Participants can take part in CODE in two ways:
they can apply to attend the centralized VIP HUB in Toronto or they can
participate remotely from their homes, schools or their local coffee
shop. At the end of the CODE hackathon, participants submit their
completed applications online to be evaluated. In Addition to OpenText,
IBM will provide Silver Level Sponsorship of $20,000.
CODE will start at 5:00 p.m. (local time) on February 28(th), 2014 and continue for 48 hours, ending at 5:00 p.m. on March 2(nd), 2014. Following the event, the winning applications will be evaluated
on criteria such as the degree of innovation, usefulness to the
Canadian public, the level of art and design polish as well as
stability and how well open data sets were implemented. The top 15
teams will be invited to pitch their apps during the CODE Grand Finale - a live judging event - to a panel of industry experts and potential
investors. The goal is to connect the Canadian entrepreneurs directly
to investment firms and venture capitalists to ensure their apps (or
ideas) are brought to market. The winning applications may go on to be
released commercially either independently by the participants or in
co-operation with a third party.
For more information about the event including supported platforms, team
registrations and rules and regulations please visit http://www.canadianopendataexperience.com.
About XMG Studio:
XMG Studio Inc. is an award-winning developer and publisher of mobile
games. Founded in late 2009, XMG has developed a track record for
innovation excellence in mobile gaming including the release of
critically acclaimed games downloadable on your iOS, Android, and
Windows Phone devices. Based in Toronto, XMG is one of the largest
indie mobile game studios in Canada. Named as one of the top global
mobile games developers to watch by popular media, XMG is focused on
providing creative expression through gameplay for all fans of fun.
SOURCE XMG Studio
XMG Studio
CONTACT: Lydia Schaele - XMG Studio Inc. - Email:Â Lydia [at] xmg.com - +1 (416) 619 0700
The Canadian Open Data Experience (CODE) will challenge entrepreneurs
and innovators from coast to coast to create open data applications in
just 48 hours and compete for over $30,000 in prizes
TORONTO, Jan. 9, 2014 /CNW/ - Hosted by the creators of Canada's largest
competitive hackathon, XMG Studio Inc., and supported by the Government
of Canada, the Canadian Open Data Experience (CODE) aims to inspire an
entire generation of developers and designers to develop apps based on
open data. From February 28(th) to March 2(nd) creative do-ers, movers and shakers are invited to participate in this
race against the clock and liberate the data available on http://data.gc.ca. All teams that successfully submit an application compete for Gold
Sponsor OpenText's $25,000 Grand Prize, as well as a $5,000 second
place prize and a $1,000 third place prize.
"The potential economic impact of open data once innovators start
putting it to use and begin distributing their applications to the
public is immense," said Ray Sharma, President, mobile games developer
XMG Studio Inc. "The opportunity for developers is most obvious, but
the potential impact on Canadian citizens who stand to benefit from the
increased economic productivity is incredibly exciting."
To encourage the meaningful and productive use of the released datasets
CODE will begin with a day of inspirational quick-fire speeches from
renowned technology and open data industry leaders at the official CODE
VIP HUB in Toronto on February 28(th), 2014. The Inspiration Day will be live-streamed on the CODE website and will officially end with
the announcement of a theme that participants will need to adhere to in
order to guarantee all participants begin on common ground.
"Our Government is excited to see Government Open Data, a previously
untapped resource, fueling the development of apps that will help
Canadians in their day-to-day lives," said the Honourable Tony Clement,
President of the Treasury Board. "Innovations like the apps created at
CODE will ensure Canada remains at the forefront of the global Open
Data movement."
OpenText, Canada's largest software company, is providing the $40,000
Gold level sponsorship contribution to the event of which $25,000 will
go to the winning developer.
"OpenText's continuing commitment to innovation is in sync with the CODE
initiative and we are pleased to support application development for
the benefit of Canadians," said OpenText President and CEO Mark
Barrenechea. "We are inspiring application development through our
latest software development and hope to impact the opportunity for
innovation using government data sets that were previously
unavailable."
CODE is open to all who are interested in developing applications with
the goal of bettering the lives of Canadians, regardless of digital
prowess. The specially developed matchmaking tool on the CODE website
allows anyone to find the team members needed to take an idea from
concept to completion. Participants can take part in CODE in two ways:
they can apply to attend the centralized VIP HUB in Toronto or they can
participate remotely from their homes, schools or their local coffee
shop. At the end of the CODE hackathon, participants submit their
completed applications online to be evaluated. In Addition to OpenText,
IBM will provide Silver Level Sponsorship of $20,000.
CODE will start at 5:00 p.m. (local time) on February 28(th), 2014 and continue for 48 hours, ending at 5:00 p.m. on March 2(nd), 2014. Following the event, the winning applications will be evaluated
on criteria such as the degree of innovation, usefulness to the
Canadian public, the level of art and design polish as well as
stability and how well open data sets were implemented. The top 15
teams will be invited to pitch their apps during the CODE Grand Finale - a live judging event - to a panel of industry experts and potential
investors. The goal is to connect the Canadian entrepreneurs directly
to investment firms and venture capitalists to ensure their apps (or
ideas) are brought to market. The winning applications may go on to be
released commercially either independently by the participants or in
co-operation with a third party.
For more information about the event including supported platforms, team
registrations and rules and regulations please visit http://www.canadianopendataexperience.com.
About XMG Studio:
XMG Studio Inc. is an award-winning developer and publisher of mobile
games. Founded in late 2009, XMG has developed a track record for
innovation excellence in mobile gaming including the release of
critically acclaimed games downloadable on your iOS, Android, and
Windows Phone devices. Based in Toronto, XMG is one of the largest
indie mobile game studios in Canada. Named as one of the top global
mobile games developers to watch by popular media, XMG is focused on
providing creative expression through gameplay for all fans of fun.
SOURCE XMG Studio
XMG Studio
CONTACT: Lydia Schaele - XMG Studio Inc. - Email:Â Lydia [at] xmg.com - +1 (416) 619 0700