$30 million, 5-year IBM
investment unites developers to solve pressing social issues;
benefits UN Human Rights Office, Red Cross in partnership with
Linux Foundation and creator David Clark Cause
PARIS, May 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- VIVA TECHNOLOGY
CONFERENCE -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) and partners today launched the
Call for Code Global Initiative, the largest and most ambitious
effort to bring startup, academic and enterprise developers
together to solve one of the most pressing societal issues of our
time: preventing, responding to and recovering from natural
disasters.
During a keynote address at the VivaTech Conference in
Paris, IBM Chairman, President and
CEO Ginni Rometty called on the
technology industry to help build a better future, committing IBM
technology and $30 million USD over
five years in the annual Call for Code Global Initiative. Its goal
is to unite the world's developers and tap into data and AI,
blockchain, cloud and IoT technologies to address social
challenges.
"At IBM, we harness the power of technologies like AI,
blockchain, IoT and cloud to address some of the biggest
opportunities and challenges in business," said Bob Lord, IBM chief digital officer. "Now, with
Call for Code, we are calling on all developers to join us and use
these same leading edge technologies to help people, their
communities and society."
Through Call for Code, IBM and David Clark Cause are joining
forces with the United Nations Human Rights Office and its human
rights-based approach to humanitarian action, which focuses on
securing the participation of affected groups in preparedness,
response and recovery efforts, and bringing attention to the most
excluded and marginalized populations.
"Technology can be a powerful force to advance human rights and
build more equitable societies. Call for Code is an excellent
opportunity to explore how technology can play a role in addressing
the needs of the most vulnerable populations and those who are at
risk of having their human rights violated in the context of a
humanitarian crisis," said Laurent
Sauveur, head of external relations of the United Nations
Human Rights Office.
Call for Code also integrates the American Red Cross' focus on
new ways to bring support to disaster victims – especially
important with 2017 ranked as one of the worst years on record for
catastrophic events, including fires, floods, earthquakes and
storms.
"Responding to large-scale national and international disasters
is a team effort, and we are excited to leverage skills and
insights from the tech industry to address global challenges," said
Brad Kieserman, vice president of
Disaster Cycle Services at the American Red Cross. "Partnerships
and technology like this allow for smarter and faster response
efforts, which are critical to help those in need more quickly and
efficiently."
Call for Code invites developers to create new applications to
help communities and people better prepare for natural disasters.
For example, developers may create an app that uses weather data
and supply chain information to alert pharmacies to increase
supplies of medicine, bottled water and other items based on
predicted weather-related disruption. Or it could be an app that
predicts when and where the disaster will be most severe, so
emergency crews can be dispatched ahead of time in proper numbers
to treat those in need.
IBM's $30 million investment over
five years will fund access to developer tools, technologies, free
code and training with experts. The winning team will receive a
financial prize, yet, perhaps more rewarding, they will have access
to long-term support to help move their idea from prototype to
real-world application. This includes ongoing developer support
through IBM's partnership with the Linux Foundation.
"Winning submissions need a strong ecosystem to ensure that they
will flourish and continue to be deployed across the globe long
after the competition ends. That's where The Linux Foundation is
proud to step in and help equip open-source projects with the tools
they need to accelerate adoption," said Jim
Zemlin, executive director of The Linux Foundation.
In addition to development support, the winning team can join
one of IBM's Corporate Service Corps (CSC) teams to apply their
idea to a community in need. IBM CSC teams are multi-disciplinary
IBM experts who spend four to six weeks in underserved communities
around the world to apply technology to local issues and
opportunities.
Call for Code Global Initiative
IBM is the founding member of the Call for Code Global
Initiative, which was created by David
Clark, a renowned leader in cause-related initiatives.
David Clark's work includes iconic
people and humanitarian organizations, such as President
Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Prince, the United Nations,
Amnesty International, and The Anne Frank Center.
"The Call for Code Global Initiative was created to realize the
full potential of developers, as they play a critical role in
driving innovation that can shape and save lives. When these change
agents are inspired to use their unique skills to help people in
need, they do," said David Clark,
founder, David Clark Cause. "There could not be a more significant
founding partner for this important global initiative than IBM, and
I'm both privileged and honored they have answered the call."
GRAMMY-nominated singer and human rights advocate Andra Day, whose 2015 global smash hit song
"Rise Up" quickly became the voice for the voiceless, is leading a
celebrity coalition supporting the Call for Code Global
Initiative.
"I admire the mission of Call for Code, and how it aims to
create technology based solutions to help people in need," said
Day, whose causes align with the invaluable work of United Nations
Human Rights and the American Red Cross, as the initial Call for
Code addresses natural disaster preparedness and relief.
To raise awareness and interest in Call for Code, IBM is
coordinating interactive educational events, hackathons and
community support for developers around the world in more than 50
cities, including Amsterdam,
Bengaluru, Berlin, Delhi, Dubai,
London, New York, San
Francisco, Sao Paulo and
Tel Aviv.
How to Join the Call for Code
- Developers can register today at Callforcode.org.
- Projects can be submitted by individuals – or teams of up to
five people – between June 18, 2018
and August 31, 2018.
- Thirty semi-finalists will be selected in September. A
prominent jury, including some of the most iconic technologists in
the world, will choose the winning solution from three
finalists.
- The winner will be announced in October
2018 during a live-streamed concert and award event
coordinated by David Clark Cause.
Additional details, a full schedule of in-person and virtual
events, and training and enablement for Call for Code are available
at http://www.developer.ibm.com/callforcode.
Press Contacts
IBM
Chris Andrews
845-612-6142
candrews@us.ibm.com
David Clark Cause
Rebekah Alperin
1.310.770.1045
rebekalperin@icloud.com
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SOURCE IBM