Nationwide coding challenge appeals to innovators and public safety

With a series of 10 regional code-a-thon events in-person coding events and an online contest, the Tech to Protect Challenge encourages widespread participation from a diverse community of innovators

September is National Preparedness Month, and this year innovation for first responders is on the forefront. The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority), an independent authority within the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), is collaborating with the DOC National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST)Public Safety Communications Research Division (PSCR) on the Tech to Protect Challenge, a groundbreaking coding project. This national innovative challenge introduces coding contests designed to foster communications technology solutions that will aid emergency responders in serving and protecting communities nationwide. Participants will compete for cash prizes from a pool of $2.2 million.