The Hague Policy Hackaton: young talent takes on real policy challenges in The Hague
What happens when young policy thinkers, data specialists and researchers are given just one weekend to tackle real societal challenges? From 9 to 11 October, The Hague Policy Hackathon will bring them together at Leiden University’s Spui Campus to develop evidence-based solutions for policy challenges facing society.
Ideas into policy
Unlike a traditional hackathon, the goal is not primarily to build software. Instead, multidisciplinary teams will use research, data analysis and different fields of expertise to turn complex problems into practical policy proposals.
The challenges are provided by organisations and policy stakeholders working on real societal issues. Participants choose from five policy themes and spend two and a half days researching their case, analysing evidence and developing an actionable proposal. At the end of the weekend, teams submit their policy brief and have just three minutes to pitch their solution to a jury.
The approach reflects a growing need for people who can connect technology and data with an understanding of society and public policy. Programming skills are therefore not required. Students and young professionals from technical, social science and other academic backgrounds are encouraged to work together.
Bringing the Hackathon to The Hague
The Hague edition follows earlier policy hackathons in cities including Amsterdam and Cambridge and is inspired by the MIT Policy Hackathon in the United States. It is initiated by the Data for Public Impact Network (DPIN) and co-organised with The Hague Effective Altruism (THEA).
Bringing the concept to The Hague creates a natural connection with a city that combines government, international organisations, universities, security organisations and a growing technology ecosystem.
Part of Cybersecurity week
The hackathon takes place at the end of The Hague’s Cybersecurity Week, which runs from 5 October. Digitalisation and cyber resilience will therefore form an important part of the wider context in which participants work. ONE Conference takes place at 6 and 7 October in the World Forum The Hague.
The timing also provides an opportunity to look beyond technology itself. Questions around cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and digitalisation increasingly require not only technical solutions, but decisions about policy, governance and their impact on society.
