The Polytechnic starts “Assistive Technology Design Engineering Contest” within the framework of Tech2Life initiative (#ATDEC2021)

The Polytechnic starts “Assistive Technology Design Engineering Contest” within the framework of Tech2Life initiative (#ATDEC2021)

The Polytechnic starts “Assistive Technology Design Engineering Contest” within the framework of Tech2Life initiative (#ATDEC2021)

Assistive technologies are not available for most people throughout the world and few countries have national policies or programs aimed at assistive technologies.

Tech2Life in collaboration with National Polytechnic University of Armenia starts “Assistive Technology Design Engineering Contest”, that is a unique challenge for young engineers and research teams throughout the republic to design assistive technologies that will improve and increase opportunities for people with disabilities and those in need of assistance within the society.

The contest will take place in 2 stages, in the following categories:

Assistive electronic devices,

Assistive programs.

Participating teams should introduce their solutions for device prototypes or in the form of software solutions during the first stage and, during the second stage, in an environment equipped with special technical and material base, three days in a row they should solve and introduce to the jury improved solutions, taking into account some additional conditions.

The fund for the contest is allocated according to the categories as follows: first place (1.500.000 RA drams), second place (1,250,000 RA drams) and third place (1,000,000 RA drams).

The national winner of the contest will be awarded with additional prize of 2.500.500 RA drams.

The winning teams will have an opportunity to participate in acceleration programs aimed at assistive technologies, as well as to introduce their solutions to potential investors.

Tec2Life initiative aspires to create and develop assistive technologies ecosystem in Armenia that can be duplicated later in other countries. It aims to support the development of favorable environment for assistive technologies in Armenia, enabling people with disabilities and the ones who need assistive technologies including senior people to lead a healthy, efficient, independent, benevolent life and actively be engaged in education, labor market and civil life.

The initiative is implemented within the framework of collaboration of UNDP Development program and UNICEF “Development of equal participation and inclusion in improved services” program that strives to assist RA government in an effort to evaluate disability issues and to reform the system of service provision to support equal opportunities. The program is financed by the Russian Federation and is implemented in close cooperation with RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and other ministries.

For detailed information consult the website www.atdec.am.