‘Coronathon’: Georgian entrepreneurs create innovations against COVID-19

An online hackathon – a 'Coronathon' – that was organised to encourage the creation of new technologies that would be used in the fight against coronavirus has unveiled a winner – Georgian company Edison Tech with the idea of a portable ventilator.

Edison Tech will receive 20,000 GEL (about $6,299/€5,786) to create a portable ventilator that can be used both in critical situations and at home.

Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava met today with young innovators from Edison Tech and other participants of the Coronathon. She said that the Ministry of Economy supports innovative ideas and creative minds in Georgia.

A portable ventilator can be interesting for an emergency. We will help them improve the first prototype to get positive results from the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health and we hope that this device will eventually be interesting and demanded. If so we will also help the company to produce it... Coronavirus has created enormous challenges in the world and in Georgia, and it has also stimulated the creation of innovative ideas", said Turnava.

Economy Minister Natia Turnava at the meeting with  young innovators. Photo: Ministry of Economy.

Turnava showed interest in another idea of the hackathon which entails creating electronic face masks, which will protect the people from the virus with UV rays. 

Coronathon was announced by the Innovation and Technology Agency of Georgia and marketing agency Redberry on April 3. 

Its purpose was to encourage young entrepreneurs create prototype of digital products that could help overcoming challenges created by coronavirus. The topics of the hackathon were online medicine, food supply, distance education, disease spread/monitoring.