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Coders, developers, designers, entrepreneurs and start-ups from across the Northern Powerhouse are invited to create the ‘next big thing’ in web or mobile apps at the STFC Hartree Centre’s first big data and cognitive technologies hackathon from 18-20 May 2016.

The Hartree Centre accelerates the use of high performance computing, data science, big data analytics and cognitive techniques to solve industrial and research challenges. The Hartree Hack provides those taking part with the opportunity to benefit very quickly from the tools and expertise available at the Centre.In partnership with IBM Watson, the Hartree Hack will put the latest cognitive technologies directly into the hands of attendees. Participants will learn from the experts about what IBM Watson APIs (application programming interfaces) can offer them and how to use them, create their first cognitive app and compete to win £25k of support from STFC* to propel their idea forward to a market reality over just three days.

Karen Lee, Head of Impact and Engagement at STFC’s Hartree Centre and the Hartree Hack lead, said: “The cognitive computing era has arrived – an era where computers can be taught instead of just programmed, where you can get deeper insights from data to come up with new solutions to problems. We’re delighted, through our strategic collaboration with IBM, to provide this superb opportunity for participants to get their hands on Watson technology and gain invaluable mentoring from experts at Hartree and IBM. Whether you want to pursue an entirely new idea, have a business challenge, or you just like coding, the Hartree Hack will provide the platform and skills for you to build apps on any domain of your interest, with the chance to collaborate with like-minded people, be they entrepreneurs, academics or expert coders.”

Participants of the Hartree Hack can come solo to form a team, or come as a team, and will be fully supported as they create their innovative applications using IBM Watson’s suite of API services, which are specifically designed to facilitate rapid development of applications in the cloud. A full tour of how to use IBM Bluemix, which incorporates Watson’s language, vision, speech and data platforms will be given, and expert support and mentoring will be available throughout the event.

Phil Westcott, European Ecosystem Leader at IBM Watson, said: "We now live in an ‘API economy’ where anyone with a vision can rapidly deploy ground-breaking applications without the need for huge capital investment in IT infrastructure, nor an army of software developers... This is allowing small businesses to compete and disrupt in every industry. The HartreeHack will enable entrepreneurs and developers to rapidly prototype cognitive solutions powered by the Watson API services. We hope everyone taking part will leave empowered by with a new range of skills, knowledge and passion for building cognitive applications.”

Participation for the Hartree Hack is free, but advance registration is essential and must be received by 27 April at the latest. The event will take place at the Hartree Centre, at Sci-Tech Daresbury in Cheshire.

Further information and terms and conditions for the Hartree Hack, including registration, resources and FAQs can be found here.

*Terms and conditions apply. Please see the Hartree Hack webpages for details.

Further information – on Hartree Centre

Contact

Wendy Ellison
Science and Technology Facilities Council
01925 603232 / 07919 548012

STFC Hartree Centre

Part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council, and located at Sci-Tech Daresbury in Cheshire, the Hartree Centre accelerates the application of high performance computing, data science, big data analytics and cognitive techniques into industry.

Backed by over £170M funding from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, and with a strategic collaboration IBM to boost big data research in the UK, the Hartree Centre is helping businesses and research partners to use these tools to solve research challenges, and gain insights, value and competitive advantage for the UK.

In partnerships, the Hartree Centre is also developing the next generation of supercomputing architectures and software, combining existing best practice with innovation to deliver faster, more energy sustainable solutions capable of meeting the challenges of data intensive computing.