The AIMS Lab, based at the Brussels Institute for Social & Population Studies (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Needs Map and Emlak Jet invite scholars and experts in disaster management to participate in a data challenge.

The challenge will be organized in different stages:

• Interested teams will submit a proposal with a project abstract, rationale and the state of the art, objectives, methodology, work plan, impact, and the researchers involved. Projects can only be submitted via their designated online form.
• The Scientific Committee will rate the proposals and determine eligible groups and researchers.
• The proposals will be predominantly evaluated on their potential to enhance preparedness and response strategies for future catastrophic events. 
• Selected groups and researchers will be granted access to the datasets under a stringent confidentiality agreement. This measure ensures the responsible and ethical use of the data while fostering groundbreaking research and innovation. It is imperative to note that any commercial exploitation of the dataset is expressly forbidden. 
• Awarded the data, the teams will have approximately five months to carry out their research.
• Following the submissions, the Programme Committee will recognize and honor the best projects during a final award ceremony scheduled to be held in Brussels. The overarching goal is not just to advance meaningful research but to ensure that the outcomes have a direct, positive impact on the lives of those affected by the earthquakes