Iloilo: This year's national hackathon competition is looking forward to producing new startups or innovative business ventures using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The hackathon is part of the 2016 AI Festival organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). It aims to bring together aspiring innovators to learn from practitioners, tackle local challenges, and build AI-powered solutions aligned with the priority areas of Western Visayas-blue economy, tourism, and clean and renewable energy.
According to Philippines News Agency, Rayjand Gellamucho, Assistant Regional Manager of the Unified Movement in Western Visayas to Accelerate Startup and Spin-off Development (UMWAD), emphasized the importance of the hackathon as a first step in encouraging applications. He noted that most AI-based business ventures originate from Cebu and Manila, and while Iloilo has startup technology, there is no AI integration. The hackathon, scheduled for August 3-5, includes school-based and open categories. Interested participants have until June 5 to submit their applications for screening.
From the submissions, the screening committee will select the top five business ideas for each category. Although only one grand winner will emerge from each category, all business ideas will receive support by connecting them with Technology Business Incubations (TBIs). Gellamucho stated that regardless of the competition outcome, participants would be connected with TBIs for potential funding, partners, consultants, and mentors to fully develop and test their applications.
Last year's inaugural AI hackathon produced top winners from West Visayas State University, who are now being nurtured at the school's TBI. Among these is the Harmful Algal Bloom Intelligent Observer Network, an AI-powered early warning system developed to address the threat of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Western Visayas, adopted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Though not yet a full-blown business venture, its application is being further developed with BFAR's collaboration.
Other notable models include DiaSight, an AI platform that predicts and stratifies risk for Diabetic Retinopathy using routine laboratory data, and GabayAni, an AI-powered chatbot providing real-time, localized agricultural guidance to Filipino smallholder farmers, beginning with rice farming. Gellamucho expressed hope that these models could register with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), especially as they present their studies internationally. Part of the TBI's services includes assisting with IPOPHL registration.
