The first hackathon in Madeira
Year 2022
On the 9th and 10th September 2022, Madeira Friends alongside Martin Donadieu and Ana Leça Umbelino, with the support of the regional government of Madeira through the government IT headquarters, Startup Madeira, Digital Nomads Madeira Islands, organized the first social responsibility hackathon in Madeira.
In the context of the island’s digital transition, the Digital Nomads recognized the Regional Government’s focus in this area as last year, the President, Miguel Albuquerque, spoke on the subject **numerous times **and positioned **digitalization **as Madeira’s biggest opportunity.
They also verified that it is not only the President who sees this opportunity, as they report they have seen more and more events, more programs, more support and funding for the digital transition on Madeira. The pandemic has brought to light the need for a **global digital shift **and Madeira is not left out. By “living” here, they recognize the **potential **that Madeira has at an international level and the love for the island grows day by day as a second home.
The dynamic event brought together Digital Nomads, IT engineers, entrepreneurs, students in technological areas and creative people interested in the digital evolution of the autonomous region of Madeira, in a room with the aim of solving some identified problems of benefit to the island in a technological environment marathon.
Participants collaborated in small working groups and had the opportunity to present **new solutions **to resolve issues related to digitization of Madeira’s traditions and culture, bureaucracy and internal processes, crowdsource and regional microclimates for weather, digital volunteering and public transport.
The event brought a spotlight to each segment which clearly demonstrated that there is potential in taking the next steps forward in bringing into life the showcased solutions and by having the digital nomads on the matter, will bring a stronger force into digitizing the island.
They also challenged Zeca Diogo, a **local **Portuguese artist, into bringing their vision onto a canvas of an older generation using the computer by being connected to a younger generation playing with a spinning top.
The vision was brought into life, where both generations are connected through a computer mouse, with the map of Madeira in the background, showcasing the positivity that technology can bring forward between both generations and still maintaining one’s roots in a more digitalized era.
The art piece, created during one of the group’s previous events at the Pestana CR7 Funchal hotel and applauded by many, is a small gift from the digital nomads to the government IT department and was displayed at the hackathon.
