Bangladesh-South Korea "ideaTHON" contest kicks off 

Intending to increase the knowledge and skills of startups in Bangladesh as well as develop a digital startup ecosystem, Bangladesh-South Korea is going to organise the "ideaTHON" contest in a joint venture. 

This contest is being organised by iDEA project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division with the slogan "Let's Start You Up". 

The event is co-organised by the Korea Productivity Center (KPC) and the Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA). In addition, the ICT Division and the Bangladesh Computer Council of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Justice of South Korea and the Global Start-up Immigration Center of South Korea are partnering with the event. 

The top 5 innovative startups will be announced as the winners at the end of the final selection of this contest. 

The winners will receive 6 months of special training, incubation, funding and connecting support with VC companies in South Korea also with the international patents, copyright and trademark assistance. Besides, the best 25 teams will get special mentoring and certificates.

State Minister of ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP inaugurated the Contest as the chief guest of the online inauguration program on Saturday.

He said, "The main goal of such events is to encourage and motivate youth. As a result of this event, the friendly relations between Bangladesh and Korea will be taken to a different level." 

The senior secretary of ICT Division NM Zeaul Alam PAA was present as the special guest on the occasion. He hoped that by connecting Bangladesh with the world's startup ecosystem, it would be possible to bring in foreign investment and also enable startups to bring in foreign investment.

The executive director of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Parthapratim Deb was present as the special guest and he said that this time our startups in Bangladesh will get the opportunity to take training abroad. 

The managing director of Startup Bangladesh Limited Tina F Jabeen was also there as a special guest while Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Dr Rubana Huq was present there as the Guest of Honor of the programme. 

The event was presided over by the project director (Additional Secretary) of the iDEA Project Syed Mojibul Huq. 

The Registration for the ideaTHON contest started on Saturday.

Online campaigns will be organised in all divisions of the country. As part of this campaign, alumni of more than 30 public and private universities of the country and different trade associations including BASIS, BACCO, BCS, ECAB, ISPAB are being connected. 

Interested tech-based Bangladeshi startups may complete the online registration to take part in this competition.

However, no individual can participate alone. A team can apply to have a minimum of 2 members and a maximum of 4 members including the team leader. 

In addition, those who have completed a Bachelor's Degree or Masters or MPhil or PhD in the field of educational qualifications or have appeared in the graduation or equivalent examination of any educational institution in Bangladesh recognized by UGC can apply. 

It should be noted that the age of the applicants should be between 22 to 39 years on 19 September 2020. 

The last date for registration to participate in ideaTHON is November 21, 2020 (Saturday). For details and application, interested applicants need to visit - http://ideathon.startupbangladesh.gov.bd/

Last year, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Justice (South Korea), ICT Division (Bangladesh), Korea Productivity Center (KPC) and Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA) at the Seoul International Innovation Fair 2019.