Challenges

At the OdiseIA4Good hackathon, the challenges posed will focus on developing Artificial Intelligence solutions that respond to the needs of vulnerable groups globally. From people with disabilities and the elderly, to indigenous and migrant communities, the projects will have to address specific social problems, improving quality of life and access to essential services.

The well-being of seafarers in the Stella Maris network of centres

Coordinated action for the welfare of seafarers in the Stella Maris centre network. There are 2 million active seafarers who are essential to maintaining 90% of international merchant trade. Most spend long periods away from home under harsh working conditions. Since 2006, the ILO's Maritime Labour Convention (CLM2006) has advocated ensuring the human, labour and welfare rights of this population. The Stella Maris network has facilities in more than 300 ports, assisting nearly 70,000 crews a year.
The aim is to develop a tool that will allow seafarers to be put in contact with the nearest Stella Maris centres and, on the other hand, to monitor the crews that are visited around the world in order to offer a better service to the welfare of seafarers.

Comprehensive human care for sailors on the ship

There are 2 million active seafarers who are essential to maintaining 90% of international merchant trade. Most spend long periods away from home under harsh working conditions. Since 2006, the ILO's Maritime Labour Convention (CLM2006) has advocated ensuring the human, labour and welfare rights of this population.
It is proposed to develop a tool/app/chatbot that provides company, emotional support, and response to the specific challenges of their work on the high seas (offline).

Sports Opportunities for Youth

Sports Opportunities for Youth in Vulnerable Communities. In Latin America, thousands of talented young people face economic, geographic and social barriers that limit their access to sports opportunities. This challenge seeks to develop solutions based on artificial intelligence that identify and connect young talents with resources such as personalized training, scholarships and competitions, mitigating the inequalities they face and promoting inclusion through sport.

Design an app that provides essential information and resources for migrants and refugees arriving in a new city.

Guides to available services (health, education, employment).
Automatic translation and multilingual support.
Interactive maps with relevant points of interest (embassies, help centers).
Inclusive job guidance
Assistance with language skills and management
Social inclusion in Spanish culture and customs
Objective: Help migrants and refugees integrate into their new communities, providing the necessary information and resources.

Making a more equal world

People with disabilities have the right to be integrated into society as an individual, but there are different architectural barriers depending on the disability in question. What I propose is an app in which people who are specialists in disabilities, but also volunteers, can help these people on a daily basis. For example, preventing bullying in schools, avoiding loneliness, being able to travel to different countries without having to worry about suitcases and architectural barriers, and for those who like video games, using play-to-earn games (you earn money by playing), AI and blockchain will be used.

Design and implement AI within a comprehensive ethical, legal and reliable framework. Feasibility and guarantees.

Applications of Generative AI in critical sectors (health, transport, finance or housing) to promote the inclusion of everyone in society, placing special emphasis on the most vulnerable groups. Design the application and implement at least one proof of concept to validate the product (validate that the product can be created, and has the capacity to solve the identified problem)

Be especially careful with the risks that AI has, try to identify them to the extreme, and design your application taking into account the intrinsic risks of AI based on the models and data used. Consider the regulations that may disable the tool and look for solutions. Adopt risk perspectives and let's analyze possible responsibilities if AI causes damage.

Digital Solutions to Combat Loneliness and Elder Care

In Europe, more than 30% of older people live alone, facing social isolation that increases the risk of depression and cognitive decline. This challenge seeks to develop artificial intelligence-based solutions that promote digital inclusion, strengthen family and social support networks, and improve their emotional well-being. Participants are invited to design accessible tools adapted to their digital skills, create systems that detect signs of isolation, and encourage social and cognitive interaction in safe digital environments. According to the WHO, loneliness increases the risk of premature death by 26%, while inclusive initiatives can reduce the feeling of isolation by 40%. This challenge seeks to transform the lives of older people, closing the digital divide and creating more connected communities.

Synthetic data in health: an opportunity for gender equality

A recently developed field called fair synthetic data offers the possibility of improving the dataset by feeding it with potentially more representative data. This even promises to correct gender bias in algorithms and models of AI systems.

However, fair synthetic data also has its limitations. Among them,
the lack of representativeness of women in the health field, either within the research and/or clinical sample.

For all these reasons, it is necessary to explore in more detail how synthetic data could be useful in AI applications that promote gender equality.

The rural digital divide: a territorial and social challenge

The digital divide is a territorial and social problem of the utmost importance, which demands comprehensive strategies that include investments in infrastructure but accompanied by policies and initiatives that guarantee equal access to digital technologies and training and capacity building programs in digital skills, focused on people and end users, to eliminate the barriers that prevent obtaining all the benefits that come with access and proper use of these digital technologies.

And, fundamentally, it is essential to promote awareness and a culture of digital inclusion, not just use, to ensure that no one is isolated or excluded from the modern digital society in which we live, and to recognize digital equality as a fundamental right.

Retirees. AI as a support for value creation after retirement

The goal of this challenge is to develop an innovative and practical solution based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) that leverages the vast accumulated experience of retirees to generate a significant impact on the economy and society — measured in terms of added economic value — while slowing their cognitive decline. This involves finding creative ways to integrate retirees into activities that are valuable to them and the community, improving their quality of life while actively contributing their knowledge and skills.
The solution consists of leveraging AI capabilities in personalization (algorithms that identify capabilities and interests), cognitive interaction (stimulating learning, gamification and socialization) and scalability (efficient integration of thousands of initiatives).
The solution will reduce the risks associated with cognitive decline and create tangible economic and social value from the group of retirees.

Prevention against sexual tourism

According to IOM data, in 2017 approximately three million people travel around the world for the purpose of sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. A tool is needed that analyzes data from social networks, forums and reviews to identify patterns of sexual exploitation, preventing and combating illegal practices in the international tourism sector.

Solutions for patients with Fibromyalgia

In Spain, 2.4% of the adult population, according to the EPISER study, is affected by fibromyalgia, a chronic rheumatic disease characterized by severe pain and fatigue that incapacitate patients and are often accompanied by other digestive and cognitive disorders. It is also accompanied by problems of depression, loneliness and lack of understanding by society, especially in rural areas.

This challenge consists of developing AI-based solutions that improve the lives of fibromyalgia patients and enable rapid consultation of symptoms and possible treatments, access to and monitoring of healthy behavior patterns, cooperation in support groups, proposals that promote recovery or improve their quality of life, as well as the collection of health indicators that facilitate their use in medical research.

Inclusive Employment Platform

Only 28% of people with disabilities of working age are employed, compared to 60% of the general population (ILO). This is due to unadapted processes, prejudices and lack of accessibility, perpetuating inequalities and limiting their autonomy.

The Objective of the Challenge is to create an AI-based platform that connects people with disabilities with job opportunities, adapting their skills to business needs. It must be accessible and inclusive, promoting labor diversity.

The target audience is people with disabilities looking for employment and companies committed to inclusion.

Expected Results: A functional prototype that allows:
a) Creating accessible profiles adapted to specific skills and needs.

b) Offering personalized job recommendations.

c) Facilitating inclusive selection processes.

Technical Requirements: Use of recommendation algorithms, accessibility standards and chatbots to guide users.

Solutions for Students at Risk of Exclusion

Problem: Many students at risk of educational exclusion face significant barriers to accessing personalized learning resources. This is due to a lack of tutors, poorly adapted materials, and the unavailability of accessible digital tools. All of this increases educational inequalities and limits their academic development.

- Target Audience: Children and adolescents in disadvantaged communities, especially those with difficulties in accessing quality education due to economic, geographical, or social barriers.

- Solution: Design and implement artificial intelligence-driven solutions that offer educational support tailored to the specific needs of each student, promoting their learning in an inclusive and effective way.

Travel planning system for people with disabilities.

91% of people with disabilities would change their destination if they were guaranteed access, but only 9% of tourist destinations are adapted. This challenge seeks to offer concrete solutions that facilitate the planning of more accessible trips and improve the experience of millions of people who still face barriers to tourism, recommending accessible routes, inclusive activities and adapted services.

AI to prevent gentrification in cities

Develop artificial intelligence models that analyse urban data, such as changes in land use, population displacement and changes in the real estate market, to identify areas at risk of gentrification. This challenge seeks to implement early warnings and proactive policies that help mitigate the negative impacts of gentrification, preserving communities and their heritage.