We are proud and excited to host for the first time in Vicenza NASA Space Apps Challenge, an international 48-hour-hackathon intended to develop ideas, projects or innovative technologies designed for scientific exploration and aimed at finding useful solutions to face the major global challenges, which concern Planet Earth and us all.

THE WORLD NEEDS YOUR IDEAS

Part of the Open Government Partnership, Space Apps is an annual event that pulls citizens together regardless of their background or skill level. Don't let the name fool you... it's not just about apps! Tackle a challenge using robotics, data visualization, hardware, design and many other specialties! Inspire each other while you learn and create using stories, code, design and, most of all, YOUR ideas. Show us your problem-solving skills and share your talents with the world!

"Each and every human has experience, expertise, and a personal stake in increasing our understanding of our sole home planet.  Citizen scientists and data enthusiasts all over the world are a massive untapped resource – we invite you to use NASA’s Earth science data and resources to help tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow"

NASA Earth Science Director, Michael Freilich.

GENERAL INFORMATIONS

Click on the following link to download our partecipants guide

WHO ORGANISES AND WHY?

Space Apps Challenge Vicenza is an initiative promoted jointly by Vicenza Municipality, Confartigianato Vicenza, the US Consulate General in Milan and Vicenza University Foundation. There are many reasons for this collaboration: our city and the USA share an old friendship and numerous US citizens live, work and study in Vicenza. 

WHERE WILL SPACE APPS VICENZA TAKE PLACE?

Space Apps Vicenza will take place inside Vicenza University campus, located in Viale Margherita 87. 
Team members should bring their own software and hardware work tools. 
The organization will not be held responsible for the use of illegal or unlicensed software by participants during Space Apps Challenge. 

AVAILABLE OPEN HARDWARE ALLOCATIONS  

Besides the materials and tools that the participants will bring with them, some development kits and a varied selection of sensors and actuators will be available (while supplies last). Click here to see the list

The microcircuits used during the design phase must be based on open hardware protocol. 

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

This competition is open to individuals or groups of individuals residing in the European Union. Minors, under the age of 18 years old, need to fill out a consent form signed by their parents. 

PANEL

Prototypes/projects will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary panel of experts. The projects evaluation will be based on the following criteria: 

Impact: How much impact (quality and quantity) can this project have? Does it solve a big problem or a little problem?

Creativity: How creative is the approach? Is the project new and something that hasn’t been attempted before? Is it something that isn't being addressed by the market?

Product: How well does this project fit the needs of the challenge it addresses? How user friendly is the technology? Is it a complete solution or does it have a long way to go?

Sustainability: How good is the plan for next steps? How prepared is the project team to continue their work beyond the event? Is the project organized in a way so others can take the project to the next level?

Presentation: How well did the team communicate their project? Are they effective in telling the story of the project and why it is important?

Awards

Local: courtesy of the organization, the three teams that will achieve the highest scores by the judges will be awarded with a cash prize:

♣ 1st prize: € 1.300,00

♣ 2nd prize: € 1.000,00

♣ 3rd prize: € 700,00

Global: Space Apps Global Judges will issue one award for 5 separate categories(1) Best Use of Hardware (2) Best Mission Concept (3) Most Inspirational (4) Galactic Impact and (5) Best Use of Data. The Judges will also nominate a number of projects to be considered for the People's Choice Award. The winner of the People’s Choice Award is selected by a global popular vote--anyone, from anywhere, can vote on the project they believe best suited to receive the award. 

Winners will be receive an invitation to attend a NASA launch (the dates have not yet been set, but will be based on launch schedules following Space Apps). Cost of travel to the launch is not included. All people attending the launch must be associated with the selected project as team members

LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS

Once the competition has started, all the enrolled participants will not be allowed to leave the premises until the end of the competition on Sunday 30th April. 

Should some competitors decide not to spend the night on the premises, they will have to inform the organisers during check-in on Saturday. They will be able to leave the Space Apps Challenge premises at 9pm on Saturday and will be able to enter the building again on Sunday at 8.00 am. Organisers and security staff will be on the premises at all times to ensure that all participants comply with the Regulation. 

On Saturday, at check-in, each participant will be assigned a nametag with an NFC-sensor badge. This badge must be worn at all times during the competition. 

All teams will be assigned a specific workspace, which they must occupy throughout. It will be the team members’ responsibility to supervise their equipment and the materials and tools provided by the organisers