Hackathon returns to Prešov: The city aims to create its digital identity and engage more citizens in decision-making processes

The city of Prešov will once again seek innovative solutions through a hackathon as part of the Hacknime.to project, initiated by the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development, and Informatization of the Slovak Republic. This project is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Slovak Republic. The goal is to create a digital city identity and thus enhance citizen participation.

Since 2022, Prešov has been actively preparing to restart citizen participation in the local government’s decision-making processes, including the implementation of a participatory budget. This initiative aims to build closer relationships with residents, create an atmosphere of trust, and ultimately increase public interest in city affairs. Following the success of last year’s hackathon, where proposals were developed to begin the process of creating a digital twin of the city—enabling better municipal planning, simulation of plans, and risk identification—the city has decided to enter the Hacknime.to project again. On September 4th and 5th, hackers will gather in the historic spaces of Prešov’s PKO Čierny orol to find solutions for the hackathon titled “Digital Citizen“. 

Participants of the hackathon will be tasked with designing a solution in the form of a digital city identity to provide digital services and enable citizen participation in Prešov. This integrated platform should also include a unique electronic identifier for residents, linked to services related to city life, such as transportation, culture, sports, education, public green spaces, and more.