In its eighth year, Call for Code presents a
series of SDG-focused hackathons throughout the year, kicking off
with a competition to build AI agents
BOULDER,
Colo., March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Call
for Code Creator David Clark Cause, Founding Partner IBM
(NYSE: IBM), Global Impact Partner United Nations Human
Rights, and Program Affiliate the Linux Foundation invite
developers and problem solvers to participate in the 2025 Call for
Code program to create projects and solutions that use AI to help
tackle United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).
Since its launch in 2018, Call for Code has rallied developers
globally to come together and create innovative solutions to help
solve the world's largest problems with technology. In 2025, the
Call for Code Global Challenge will again ask how AI can address
humanitarian issues to make a real difference for communities
around the world.
"Call for Code is a unique global tech initiative, that inspires
and empowers developers and problem-solvers from around the world
to use their talent to innovate for social good," said David Clark, Founder and CEO of Call for Code.
"I am immensely proud that Call for Code, alongside its founding
partner IBM, and with UN Human Rights, has helped ensure that
technology serves as a catalyst for sustainability, climate and
humanitarian action."
This year, participants will have the opportunity to take part
in five qualifying hackathon events as part of the year-long
Call for Code Global Challenge in collaboration with IBM's
TechXchange Client Advocacy team. For each event, teams will build
an original proof-of-concept solution based on a different SDG with
technologies like watsonx, IBM's portfolio of AI products, and IBM
Cloud services. Each hackathon will include a different theme
linked to one of the 17 SDGs.
The first qualifying hackathon will be held March 20 through March 31, 2025. In honor of UN
World Water Day on March 22, it calls
on participants to build a proof-of-concept for an AI virtual agent
using watsonx.ai that can be put to work to address an issue
that falls under the SDG6: Clean Water and Sanitation. In
addition, Call for Code will host a hackathon to tackle SDG
13: Climate Action as part of the 2025 Right Here, Right
Now Global Climate Summit, the world's largest human rights-based
climate forum, hosted by UN Human Rights, the University of Oxford, and co-hosted by leading
universities worldwide.
"From the very beginning, UN Human Rights has been honored to
support Call for Code, recognizing that technology—when grounded in
human rights—can be a powerful force for good," said Ansar Mahfoudh, head of the Innovation and
Analytics Hub at UN Human Rights. "Since helping launch this
groundbreaking initiative almost a decade ago, we have supported
those projects that champion innovation that serves humanity. We
remain committed to ensuring Call for Code grows from strength to
strength, by drawing on a community of socially-minded coders who
place humans at the centre of tech and innovation solutions."
"Call for Code is a unique opportunity to get hands-on with AI,
build new skills, network with a community of like-minded problem
solvers, and create solutions," said Dinesh
Nirmal, IBM Senior Vice President, IBM Software. "This year,
there's no-cost access to industry leading, enterprise-grade IBM
software like watsonx.ai for participants. I am excited to see what
teams build to make a positive difference."
Teams, made up of one to five developers, can compete for prizes
awarded in each hackathon. The top Call for Code solution from each
qualifying hackathon will win $5,000
USD and one conference pass per team member to the IBM
TechXchange Conference 2025 in Orlando. This is IBM's biggest technical
learning conference of the year (official rules apply, tickets are
non-transferable, and travel and lodging are not included). The
qualifying teams will also have the chance to advance to compete
for the 2025 Call for Code Global Challenge Grand Prizes, including
a top cash prize of $50,000 USD. Top
teams will also have the opportunity for open-source project
support from the Linux Foundation. Grand prize winners will be
announced in December.
Interested participants can register here before March 18, 2025 for the first hackathon, which
runs from March 20 to 31, 2025. More
details about each Call for Code qualifying hackathon will be
shared on the Call for Code website as the year
progresses.
About Call for Code Global Challenge
Developers have revolutionized the way people live and interact
with virtually everyone and everything. Where most people see
challenges, developers see possibilities. That's why David
Clark, the CEO of David Clark Cause, created Call for Code in 2018,
and launched it alongside Founding Partner IBM and Global Impact
Partner United Nations Human Rights. In 2022 Call for Code was
selected as the preferred innovation platform for the Right Here,
Right Now Global Climate Alliance, the largest public/private
initiative in the world promoting climate justice.
Contact:
Laura Gallardo
Laura.Gallardo1@ibm.com
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