DTI, Germany Hold Mobile Apps Contest to Green MSMEs

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the German development cooperation agency Deutsche Gesellschaft fűr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) are inviting all Filipinos who are adept at developing mobile applications to participate in their joint competition to green local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

With MSMEs among the most severely affected by extreme weather events and other calamities that hit the country, which are largely attributed to global warming, the DTI has partnered with Germany, a global leader in fighting climate change using state-of-the-art technology, to make local MSMEs more environment-friendly and climate-smart.

DTI Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said, “The move to green our MSMEs will not only help reduce climate change overall, but will also make their businesses more sustainable and competitive in the world market.”

Germany has infused extra funds into the DTI-GIZ project Promotion of Green Economic Development (ProGED), funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), for the launch of a competition for mobile applications that would help MSMEs become more climate friendly in seven critical areas: resource efficiency, solid waste management, green supply management, natural resource management, green transportation, water and waste water management, and energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Short concept papers for the mobile apps can be submitted at the contest website at http://go.greeneconomy.ph until 15 August 2015.

Shortlisted concepts will be announced at the contest website on 19 August. Their proponents will be invited to a face-to-face event to present their app ideas. There will be three elimination rounds before the winning app is selected. The dates and venues will be announced later. Transportation and lodging expenses to and from Manila will not be shouldered.

The contest, called “GreenOvation,” is open to all Filipinos aged 18 and above, even to students, teachers, women, and retirees, both individuals and groups of up to three persons only. The winner will be supported by GIZ to develop the app for full use by local MSMEs.

Source: www.dti.gov.ph