HiQ will be hosting the NASA International Space Apps Challenge in Malmö, Sweden. The hackathon is held for the tenth year in a row and engages thousands of people from all over the world every year. The mission is to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in space and our planet for 48 hours. "It is super exciting to arrange NASA's Space Apps Challenge! We have some fantastic collaborators and competencies to bring to the table and look forward to receiving many applications for what promises to be the event of the year. I am a fan of all things space-related, so it feels great to be involved with this. At HiQ, we are passionate about creating a better world, and what could be better than solving some of the biggest challenges facing us both on Earth and in space?" says Ivar Mørch, CEO at HiQ.

For the tenth year in a row, NASA holds the global hackathon, the NASA Space Apps Challenge, a heavy-weighter within its category. The event was first held in April 2012 and serve as an innovation incubator and a civic engagement programme. Each year it brings together thousands of bright minds from all over the world to collaborate, brainstorm and find solutions to crucial problems. The hackathon involves putting NASA’s very own free and open data for use for 48 hours. Individuals with different backgrounds and skills collaborate in teams to build innovative solutions and solve some of the most pressing challenges facing us on Earth and in space.

This year, HiQ has been appointed as Location Lead and will be organizing the event in Malmö, Sweden. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the event will be virtual, but HiQ will broadcast the event from its office in Malmö. So, get ready for a rocketing weekend like never before! Registration is still open, and all sharp and creative minds are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

“We are proud to be a part of the NASA Space Apps Challenge this year. It will be immense fun to organize and be a part of this global mega event. We have super sharp skills, and we know we can reach a great bunch of people out there, so hurry up and register for one of the most exciting events this fall. As usual, the challenges tackles some of the world’s most important topics, giving the participants the opportunity to make a real difference to the world,” says Erik Ridman, CMO at HiQ.

The hackathon will take place from 2–3 October 2021. Some of the challenges in focus include mapping space debris in real-time, calculating the risk of COVID-19, finding ways to use AI and machine learning to monitor, discover and quantify plastic pollution, calculating the risk of landslides in rural areas, and much more. Or why not come up with a challenge of your own? Hackathons will be held locally with own juries and some great prizes up for grabs. The winning contributions locally will be sent on for global consideration. NASA will handle the global consideration process, and the finalists for the Global Awards will be announced after 4-6 weeks. NASA will then announce the final winners in January 2022. 

Sign up today:
https://2021.spaceappschallenge.org/locations/malmö/
https://2021.spaceappschallenge.org/challenges

About NASA International Space Apps Challenge:
The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is a global hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, and others in cities around the world, where teams engage NASA’s free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space.

For one weekend each October, participants from around the world come together over a 48-hour period to solve challenges submitted by NASA personnel. After the hackathon, project submissions are judged by space agency experts and winners are selected for one of 10 Global Awards.

Space Apps introduces problem-solvers worldwide to NASA’s free and open data. By using NASA data to solve each year’s challenges, Space Apps teams learn about NASA’s data, and share in the creation and application of the knowledge that results.

Space Apps also inspires collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. Our mission is to leverage this interest to encourage the growth and diversity of the next generation of scientists, technologists, designers, storytellers, and engineers.

With the aim of becoming the leading tech consulting company in Northern Europe, HiQ acquires IT consulting company Advicon, based in Lund, Sweden. The company and its 25 employees will be a strategically important addition on HiQ's expansion journey in the southern parts of Sweden. “I am very happy to be able to welcome all awesome employees at Advicon to us at HiQ! We have a strong development of our business in the south of Sweden and a fantastic team that works with some of the Nordic region's leading companies. The same applies to Advicon, combining our two operations means that we can strengthen our position further”, says Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO of HiQ.

Founded in 2014, Advicon is a digital consulting company with 25 employees and customers in several industries, ranging from small privately held companies to public organizations and market-leading groups on a global scale. Advicon’s idea is to run a company that is based on respect for customer needs and a culture that emphasizes teamwork and personal development as tools for success.

“This is a really big step in our development and in many ways a dream situation for all of us at Advicon. HiQ is a perfect match in regard to both our sharp competence as well as our strong corporate culture. We will be able to continue our successful development at a higher pace and to a greater extent being a part of HiQ. I am very happy to be able to share this with all our fantastic employees today”, says Bo-Rickard Jepson, CEO of Advicon.

The acquisition will strengthen HiQ’s offering through, above all, expertise in projects and commitments in digital transformation, Business Analytics and agile working methods, all important investment areas for HiQ. The team at Advicon strengthens HiQ’s position to be able to deliver digitization as a whole – from strategy to design, development, integration, launch, operation, and management. Advicon in Lund will be a part of HiQ Sweden South, joining the offices in Malmö and Karlskrona. Initially, the name Advicon is to remain with the addition “part of HiQ”, but gradually the business will merge completely under the sole name HiQ.

“The team at Advicon will be a strong and important addition to our operations in southern Sweden and I really want to say a warm welcome to all employees at Advicon. We have followed Advicon for a while and I feel that we have many similarities and the same beliefs that culture, and strong teams are the way to success. Together, we will be able to take on even larger assignments and customers and offer our skilled consultants an even greater variety of challenges and projects to work with. Really exciting”, says Åsa Melvanius, Head of Region South & VP at HiQ.

For over 15 years, HiQ has successfully built up a business in the Öresund region, with its main location in Malmö. The business has gone from being focused on the telecom industry in Lund to spanning the entire HiQ service offering within tech, IT, integration, and digital services with large international companies as customers. With the acquisition of Advicon, HiQ is back in Lund with full force and thus continues to broaden its establishment in the important and expansive Öresund region.

“Lund has Scandinavia’s largest university with 47,000 students and a strong research-based business community with global companies such as Tetra Pak, Sony Mobile Communications, Alfa Laval and Axis. This, together with the research facilities MAX IV and ESS which are under build-up in Lund, is super exciting for us! We are a strong partner for all companies that need digitization and an employer for everyone who wants to work with leading-edge technology, IT, integration, design, and communication. With Advicon, we further strengthen that position”, concludes Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO of HiQ.

HiQ with its design team from Great Apes wins two Red Dot and one Best of the Best for two projects in this years Red Dot Design Awards. With Lux Nemus, an interactive projection experience and a part of Metsä Group’s visitor center, Pro Nemus, HiQ’s Great Apes wins Best of the Best: Interface & User Experience Design and Spatial Communication: Light Installations. The Levi Resort app wins Interface & User Experience Design: Mobile User Interfaces. "Fantastic work from Great Apes. That many of their projects keep winning so many awards is proof of the high level of execution from the team," says Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO of HiQ.

HiQ with its design team from Great Apes wins two Red Dot and one Best of the Best in this years Red Dot Design Awards with the projects Lux Nemus and Levi Resort. Lux Nemus wins Best of the Best: Interface & User Experience Design and Spatial Communication: Light Installations and Levi Resort wins Interface & User Experience Design: Mobile User Interfaces.

The project Lux Nemus, which consists of a collection of custom-built walls featuring Metsä’s wood, fibre and other innovative products, is an interactive projection experience that is part of the visitor center Pro Nemus by Metsä Group. The product collages have got projections that allow visitors to interact with the walls via a touch screen. Visitors can highlight individual products, explore and learn more about them through unique light projections. The core of the installation is to showcase how Metsä Group uses each part of a tree as efficiently as possible for the purpose that creates the most value. 

The Levi Resort App provides quick and easy access to all of Levi Ski Resort’s outdoor adventures and it’s the digital companion for all visitors of the Ski Resort. On top of innovative slope and lift services it’s the key to the Levi Ski Resort loyalty program. The app provides efficient navigation, real-time and spatial data visualization, as well as open geodata and tailored map projection.  

“We are proud that these two challenging projects are recognized on an international level and acknowledged in such an important competition like the Red Dot Design Awards. We have poured our hearts into these while taming new tools and tech, and we see the awards as a proof of the high level of execution and innovation in our work,” says Lukasz Geratowski, Senior Designer at Great Apes.

HiQ’s Great Apes is one of the most internationally acclaimed digital agencies in Finland, with previous wins in the European Design Awards, Webby Awards, Red Dot Design Awards and Eurobest, as well as Nordic awards like the Grand One and Grafia’s “Best of the year”.

More information:
www.luxnemus.com
https://hiq.fi/en/work/levi-ski-resort-app/ 

About Red Dot Design Awards:
The Red Dot Design Award is one of the biggest design competitions in the world. In three disciplines, participants submit products, communication projects and brands as well as prototypes and concepts. The distinction “Red Dot” is an internationally recognised seal of excellent design.

The Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY), formerly the Swedish Data Protection Authority, has commissioned HiQ to develop its new website www.imy.se. The focus is to make it easier for users to find the right information and to make the content accessible to everyone. "It is exciting for HiQ to assist the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection with their new imy.se website. We have been a strong partner for digitisation in the public sector and I am very proud to be deploying our expertise more widely. Go HiQ!," says Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO of HiQ.

With increasing digitization, there are higher demands on public authorities to have clear information on their websites, making them accessible to everyone and easy to use. The Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY), formerly the Swedish Data Protection Authority, has selected HiQ to develop their new website www.imy.se, with the goals to make it easier for users to use and to perform errands on their own.

The work started by identifying three different groups of user needs:

1. People who need guidance and help obtaining simple and clear information on a variety of topics; for example, whether they are allowed to install a surveillance camera on their property.
2. People who have a task to carry out, such as applying for various permits.
3. People who want to know what IMY does; for example, by accessing publications, news and information about the role and mission of the authority.
   
   An impact mapping process was undertaken in order identify priorities for the new website. The result was clear and proactive information on the website so that visitors can find the information they need.
   Three clear objectives were set:
   
4. The web as the main channel.
5. Increased awareness of privacy protection.
6. Clarity on what IMY can do to help.

– This project has taught us a lot about how important it is for IMY to have a secure and accessible website that complies with GDPR. We have also worked with IMY to ensure that no unnecessary cookies are used on the website. The project with IMY has been an incredibly instructive one, says Marie Gustafsson, Project and Administration Manager at HiQ.

The outcome of the project enabled HiQ to provide IMY with the tools to turn complicated content into more accessible material using checklists, digital guides and graphics to show how a process at IMY works. The project also enlisted the help of Begripsam, a Swedish association which promotes accessibility for everyone, to user-test the cognitive accessibility of the website. Some of the reactions identified in the test group were that the colours were pleasant and gave a calm impression, that it was nice not to have so many visual effects and that it was simple.

– Working with HiQ to develop our new imy.se website has been an exciting process. It is a good feeling to have an accessible and tailored website up and running where we can continue to develop our content and provide guidance both to individuals and to businesses. HiQ is an excellent partner to us and we are proud of the new imy.se website, says Anna Hjelm, Web Manager at IMY.