Amerikahaus TechCamps - Innovative Solutions for a Better World
The TechCamp-format invites post-secondary students from diverse academic backgrounds such as natural sciences, engineering, social studies, and the humanities to develop ideas to harvest the potentials of new and disruptive technologies such as AI or blockchain for the biggest societal challenges such as critical infrastructures, climate and environmental protection, national security etc.
In 2019, the first Amerikahaus TechCamp focused on blockchain solutions of social issues (more info below). If you are interested in conducting a similar project with us, don’t hesitate to contact us. You’ll find the contact information at the end of this page.
Amerikahaus Blockchain TechCamp 2019
The first Amerikahaus TechCamp with the topic “Blockchain – Applications for a Better and More Secure Society” took place in November and December 2019 and was organized by the Amerikahaus - Bavarian Center for Transatlantic Relatrions, the U.S. General Consulate Munich, and acatech – Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften.
While the blockchain is mostly known in connection with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, it is also a highly disruptive technology applicable to a wide range of processes and use cases. It is not only an opportunity and challenge in the fintech sector, but also in areas such as security and transparency of energy markets, sustainability, supply chain management, or public administration. Likewise, its benefits for national security and political processes has become a topic of debate.
During our interdisciplinary two-day TechCamp students from disciplines such as IT, Software Engineering, political science, American studies, and others were invited to develop blockchain-applications for social issues.
The participating students formed teams of five in which they located the societal issue they wanted to provide a solution for and drew a sketch of a potential blockchain solution to the defined problem.
Of course, the students were not left alone in their quest for a blockchain solution. During the TechCamp we offered a number of workshops from experts from companies such as CapGemini, SAP, Datarell, and the Fraunhofer-Institute, in which potential use cases were presented and analyzed, e.g. in the area of identity management or the securing of supply chains.
After the the two day TechCamp at the Amerikahaus, the teams had about two weeks to further work on their projects to give them more depth. On Dec 10, 2019, judgment day has arrived. In front of an excellent jury made up of the executive director of the Amerikahaus Dr. Meike Zwingenberger, Professor for Informatics at TUM München Dr. Manfred Broy, acatech President Prof. Dr. Dieter Spath, CEO of Datarella Michael Reuter, and Public Affairs Officer of the US General Consulate Stephen Ibelli, the various teams pitched their blockchain solutions.
Impressions - TechCamp 2019
Contact
Head of Programs – Trade and Security Policies
Email
faltermeier@amerikahaus.de
Telephone
+49 89 552537-65
Student Trainee Programs Trade and Security Policies
Email
brockt@amerikahaus.de
Telephone
089 55 25 37-85