Hackathon[YAN] Yerevan-2011 innovative competition kicked off in Yerevan Municipality.

The event brought together 41 teams of programmers, designers and other professionals working on self-designed innovative projects round social and political issues.

According to the organizers, the overwhelming share of the ideas falls on the part of transport and tourism infrastructure improvement.

Money grants (AMD 1 mln, AMD 300 000) will be provided by Microsoft Innovation Center for the three best projects. AMD 500 000 will be allocated by Enterprise Incubator Foundation for best mobile solution nomination.

AMD 350.000 and other prizes will be awarded for best social project nomination by Cronimet Charity Foundation and Alternative Resources in Media respectively.

The project is sponsored by Yerevan municipality, Microsoft Corp., Armenian representative of Counterpart International, Enterprise Incubator Foundation, leading telecommunications, IT and media companies. Information sponsor is PanARMENIAN.Net.

Hackathon is a technical term deriving from the words “marathon” and “hacking”, the latter’s technical connotations implying improvement and better management.