• Inaugural Ministry of Data hackathon starts tonight
• Teams will use open data to solve real problems faced by governments and businesses
• Winning teams will receive support to develop solutions into viable products
• McGowan Government partnering with innovators and start-ups to create jobs

Local tech gurus will go head-to-head over 48 hours this weekend (August 25-27) to solve government agency challenges using open data, at the inaugural Ministry of Data hackathon.

The Ministry of Data is a new not-for-profit group which aims to solve difficult government problems, generate sustainable Western Australian start-ups and create job opportunities in the digital space.

Open data from Main Roads and the Water Corporation will be used to create programs that may provide solutions to complex problems, such as identifying roadside hazards, in 18,000 kilometres of rural road network, through video footage.

The event has been designed to go further than hackathons of the past, with winners not only receiving a cash prize sponsored by Main Roads and the Water Corporation (first prize is $1,500 and second is $500), but also mentoring opportunities and the potential to work within government agencies to get their solutions implemented.

For more information, visit https://ministryofdata.org.au