GovTech Hackathon

  • Hackathon

23. – 24.03.2023 @ Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (BIT), Eichenweg 3, Zollikofen, fully booked

At the GovTech Hackathon, we will collaboratively build, improve and use government APIs. Meet developers, experts and enthusiasts from the administration, business and civil society, and work together on our society’s digital foundation.

GovTech aims to simplify processes in all kinds of areas. Companies should be able to process their VAT invoices automatically. Civil society can follow what is happening in Parliament in real time. Property developers should be able to submit planning applications electronically and check their status online. On 23 and 24 March, users and developers of administration programming interfaces will come together in Bern. During the two-day session, participants will develop prototypes of new APIs, improve existing ones and design applications that can make use of them. In short, they will be helping to lay the digital foundations for our society: electronic interfaces, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), form the basis for digital public services. Thanks to these interfaces, businesses, the public, but also public authorities themselves can exchange data and services and develop their own digital applications.

At the GovTech Hackathon, participants will work together for two days on specific challenges with the aim of making digital public services as user-friendly, intuitive, interoperable and sustainable as possible. The hackathon is fully booked. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up to date on a possible next edition.

Challenges and ideas

Mobility. Inclusion. Climate: Check out the challenges related to government APIs that will be pitched and tackled during the hackathon:

Program and further information

The hackathon starts on Thu, 23.03, 09.00 and lasts until Fri, 24.03, approx. 18.00. It will be moderated in German (and French). Most of the time, participants will work in their respective teams, where they can choose a language (e.g. English). Food will be provided during the hackathon. The costs for accommodation will not be covered.

Thursday, 23 March

When?What?Where?
from 08:00Check-in, coffee and croissantsEntrance
09:00Welcome and informationConference Hall
09:30Challenge pitchesConference Hall
11:00Team building4th Floor
11:30Hacking4th Floor
11:30 – 13:00LunchRestaurant BIT (Eichenweg 1)
13:30Hacking4th Floor
15:00Good Practices API: Input + Q&A (optional)Conference Hall
17:45Check-outConference Hall
18:00ApéroRestaurant Ginko
open endHacking4th Floor

Friday, 24 March

When?What?Where?
from 07:30Check-in, coffee and croissants, hacking4th Floor
10:00Good Practices API: Input + Q&A (optional)Conference Hall
11:30 – 13:00LunchRestaurant Ginko
16:00PresentationsConference Hall
17:15ApéroRestaurant Ginko
17:45Jury DecisionRestaurant Ginko
The GovTech Hackathon will take place at the Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (BIT). Image: Nulleins

The hackathon is being run by the Federal Chancellery’s DTI Sector with the support of Opendata.ch.

Contact: govtech@opendata.ch