Hackathon aims to develop solutions to public health problems

Childhood obesity - Image credit: Press Association

Public health problems such as childhood obesity, addiction and mental ill health are to take centre stage at a hackathon in Edinburgh later this month.

The hackathon is being run by Product Forge in collaboration with the NHS Information Services Division (ISD), part of NHS National Services Scotland, and Scottish Health Innovations Ltd, from 25 to 28 January.

It aims to bring together technology entrepreneurs and medical professionals to create digital innovations that could help to tackle pressing public health issues.

According to organisers, the event is open to those with or without existing ideas, and will provide an opportunity to network and gain new skills.

The event website says: “Whether you already have an idea that you would like to prototype or you would just like to make new connections, we invite you to come along and meet people with a shared goal of finding digital remedies for challenges surrounding public health.”

As part of the event, participants receive mentoring during the weekend, before presenting their ideas to the expert judges on the Sunday evening.

The top-ranking ideas will get support to further develop their ideas beyond the weekend.

The two judges for the event are Marion Bain, co-director of the executive delivery group for public health reform in the Scottish Government, and Graham Watson, executive chair of Scottish Health Innovations.

Speakers and mentors include both health and technology experts from the NHS, academia and a variety of private, public and third sector organisations.