Discovery Hackathon 2019
Three days with global innovation leaders

This summer, Discovery Japan and Daifuku, the world’s largest materials handling company, are teaming up to host the three-day Discovery Hackathon 2019 for students. Loftwork is supporting this project.

This hackathon challenges participants to think of ways to bring resources we have in abundance to places that need them. Discover and hack the issues you are feeling on a daily basis. The main challenge is to develop a service or product that will change situation where one side has enough and the other side does not. Why not take on the challenge of creating new value this summer? This hackathon is an opportunity to learn and practice approaches to both problem discovery and problem solving, and to interact with guests who are active in the engineering industry.

The co-sponsor of this year’s hackathon is Daifuku Co., Ltd. Daifuku is a world leader in the field of material handling with production and sales bases in 23 countries around the world. It is a manufacturer of logistics systems that support various industries such as automobiles, logistics, and airports.

Daifuku’s comprehensive exhibition hall for material handling and logistics, Hini Arata Kan, which brings together all of Daifuku’s technology and expertise, will be open to visitors free of charge. The exhibit includes almost all of Daifuku’s logistics systems and equipment, including about 40 companies related to Daifuku and its logistics business. This is a great opportunity to experience firsthand the cutting-edge technology that leads and supports the world.

Special guests will not only act as hackathon advisors, but they’ll also give special lectures for participants. One lecturer is Ryosuke Yamamura, a researcher at Mercari Inc.’s mercari R4D, a research organization which targets social issues. Yamamura will also participate as a judge. Other judges include Ayako Ikezawa, the so-called “goddess of Ruby,” and Kota Nezu, who is involved in the development of LOVOT.

• Student (high school, vocational school, university, or graduate school)
• Aged 18 years or older
• Interested in hardware, software, or application development
• Participants are able to participate as an individual or in a team
• Must be able to participant for the entire duration of the hackathon

Filling in what’s missing

Do you ever feel that there is “not enough” in your daily life? For example, the number of trains to commute to and from work, the number of daycare centers, the amount of time spent studying or working part-time, the saltiness of miso soup or grilled fish.

If you broaden your view to the world, you will find a number of “lacks” from small to big things such as water, food, workers, education, and infrastructure.

The theme of Discovery Hackathon 2019 is bringing what’s abundant to places that are lacking — filling in what’s missing. We challenge you to develop services and products that will change realities.

In this hackathon, use an approach centered on providing, exchanging, and sharing products or services to fill in what you think is missing.

• Overall Best Project (1 winner): 100,000 JPY prize money
• Award of Excellence (1 winner): 50,000 JPY prize money
• Discovery Award (1 winner): to be announced
• Daifuku Award (1 winner): to be announced

Recruitment period: 2019/7/1 (Mon) – 2019/8/1 (Thurs)
Hackathon: 2019/9/6 (Fri) – 2019/9/8 (Sun)

Detailed Schedule

Day 1 (Friday, September 6, 2019 10:30-18:00)
Visit Hini Arata Kan / Inspiration Talk #1 / Team Split/Ideathon
Location: Logistics System General Exhibition Hall Hini Arata Kan (Meet at JR Omihachiman Station or Maibara Station)

Day 2-3 (Saturday, September 7, 2019 9:00 – Sunday, September 8, 2019 18:00)
Inspiration Talk #2 / Hackathon
Location: Grand Front Osaka (JR Osaka Station directly connected)

*Free accommodation
*Partial subsidy for transportation