#Japan #Tokyo #Digital Skills #Tokyo AI Lab #Hackathon Program

Tokyo Metropolitan AI Lab Launches New Hackathon Program

As artificial intelligence continues its rapid integration into society and the economy, the demand for skilled individuals who can leverage digital technology is steadily increasing. To address this growing need, the Tokyo Metropolitan Education Board has initiated the "Metropolitan AI Lab" project, which empowers high school students to tackle social challenges using generative AI and other digital tools. The program officially kicked off in June, and now, the board is excited to announce the recruitment of participants for its advanced course, the "Hackathon Program."

Overview of the Program

The Hackathon Program is an immersive experience where teams of four high school students from metropolitan schools will work together to develop applications that resolve social issues, all while utilizing generative AI technologies. Spanning approximately five months, this hands-on initiative combines both in-person and online components, enabling participants to make continual progress on their projects.

During this program, students will receive guidance from experienced professionals who serve as mentors. Moreover, the program will include special lectures delivered by supervisors, ensuring that students gain valuable insights and knowledge related to AI utilization, system development, and UX design. The culmination of the program will feature a presentation day where students will showcase their applications, followed by a judging and award ceremony.

Supervisors Involved

Key figures from various sectors will lead special lectures and evaluate the teams during the awards presentation. The list of supervisors includes:

• - Ryoma Murase, Director and Senior Executive Officer at MIXI
• - Madoka Chiyoda, Developer Advocate at Microsoft Corporation
• - Hiromi Okuda, CEO of Wiz Group

Program Schedule

The schedule for the Hackathon Program is as follows:

Day 0:

Students will meet their team members and mentors, allowing time for bonding and mutual understanding.

Day 1 & 2:

Guided by the mentors, teams will learn to navigate the development environment and acquire essential app development skills.

Day 3 & 4:

Teams will identify social issues and collaboratively decide on the app's theme.

Day 5 & 6:

With the chosen theme, students will begin to solidify their ideas and create initial app prototypes.

Day 7 & 8:

Development will continue, focusing on refining app features and preparing for the final presentation.

Final Day:

The developed apps will be presented to the judges, with results posted on a special website. Please note that schedules are subject to change.

Venue Information

1. Application Development Days:
Deloitte Tohmatsu Group, Tokyo Office (Tentative)
Address: 3-2-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo

2. Presentation Day & Award Ceremony:
Tokyo Innovation Base
Address: 3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo

Registration Details

Application Period:

From July 7, 2023, until August 14, 2023.

Eligibility:

High school students attending metropolitan schools.

Capacity:

40 students (selection process will be conducted if applications exceed the limit).

How to Apply:

Interested students should register individually through the dedicated website. Group formations will be managed by the organizing committee.
Application Link

This initiative reflects Tokyo's commitment to fostering a new generation of digital innovators who are ready to solve pressing social issues with the power of technology.