On October 21 the 24-hour “Smart city” Hackathon started in Yerevan City Hall. The aim of the hackathon implemented by the joint initiative of Yerevan Municipality, the Union of Europe and the UN Development Program is to work out smart solutions for Yerevan. Mayor Taron Margaryan was present at the event and watched the process.
The walked about the foyer, talked to the participants, heard out to the ideas and approaches of young programmers. Taron Margaryan assured that the best works would find their place in various spheres of urban management. It should be noted that during the hackathon about 70 participants are going to work for 24 hours with the given database in three directions working out smart solutions, data analysis, data visualization and mechanisms of new data collection which related to various spheres of the city management- management of buildings, tourism development and the city cleanness. Presenting the process to Mayor Taron Margaryan, the chairman of the commission for working out and implementation of “Yerevan-smart city” program of Yerevan Municipality Hovik Musaelyan noted that at the final stage of the hackathon each team will be given 5 minutes for presentation of the prototype of the worked out solution.
It should be noted that the ideas chosen by the jury will pass through Colblab incubation period and get preliminary investment for the program fulfillment in the following proportions: best idea will get up to 5000 US dollars in dram equivalent, the second idea will get up to 4000 US dollars in dram equivalent and the third best idea will get up to 3000 US dollars in dram equivalent.
“Smart city” hackathon is organized within the frames of “Innovation development” (#InnoDev) program which is financed by the European Union. Answering the journalists’ questions Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan noted that such initiatives aimed at “Yerevan –smart city” program implementation will be continuative.
“About a month ago we created the commission for working out and implementation of “Yerevan-smart city” program within the frames of which the working groups have already started taking concrete steps. This joint initiative of Yerevan Municipality, EU and UNDP is in this context and it will give the opportunity to our young smart people within 24 hours to propose their smart solutions in a number of directions of urban economy. After summarizing the results it will become clear what solutions our young people propose. Be sure that all the proposals which will be feasible and useful for Yerevan will find their place in our programs. Today we have wonderful youth who can be useful in this sphere and this is also a good platform for them to present their proposals and attitudes to having a smart city.This is our first step within the frames of working out “Yerevan-smart city” concept and be sure that such initiatives will be involved in our short-term, middle-term and long-term programs”,stressed Mayor Taron Margaryan and added that in the issue of implementation of “Yerevan-smart city” programs Yerevan Municipality will cooperate with various international organizations studying and applying the international experience.
“We also see the implementation of the program in cooperation with the private sector and due to their investments. We must also present our smart solutions to various international foundations which will make it possible to attract appropriate financial means to fulfil the programs”, said the Mayor.

Information and Public Relations Department
of the City Hal of Yerevan