![](https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Meeting-brain-storming-e1530642699965.jpg)
Participants of the Hackathon will work together in teams to solve the real-life challenge of connecting Barbados’ products and services with the diaspora. (Stock Photo)
The Blue Flame Challenge, one of the signature segments of the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation’s (BIDC) annual Innovate Barbados Conference, will be launched next week.
This year’s Blue Flame Challenge will take the form of a Hackathon, where participants will work together in teams to solve the real-life challenge of connecting Barbados’ products and services with the diaspora.
The Hackathon will be launched on Monday, July 9, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bagnall’s Point Gallery, Pelican Centre, Pelican Industrial Park, St. Michael. It will take the form of a meet and greet session.
Chief Executive Officer of the BIDC, Sonja Trotman will deliver opening remarks, while representatives of IBM, will also address the gathering. Participants in the Blue Flame Hackathon will receive hands-on training and mentoring as they innovate a solution on the platform of the IBM Cloud, artificial intelligence and data science.
IBM representatives will include: Client Executive, Kathy-Ann Walkes: Client Technical Leader, Shaun Archer; Sales Director – Southern Caribbean – IBM, Andrew Thomas; and Developer Advocate, IBM, Shwetha Sivakumar.
Following the launch, the Blue Flame Hackathon will be held at the same venue, from Thursday, July 19, 9:00 a.m. until Friday, July 20, 2:00 p.m.
For further information on the BIDC’s Blue Flame Challenge, contact Business Development Officer – Technical, Jason Cadogan at 427-5350 Ext.8573 or 280-3881 or email jcadogan@bidc.org.