Government turns to tech sector for help during lockdown

The government has issued a call to arms for companies to create technology to support people at home during the national lockdown. The Department of Health and Social Care is offering total funding of up to £500,000 to tech firms that can provide solutions to help people stay at home over the next few weeks. Up to £25,000 of funding is available per company and initiatives could include: providing remote social care; boosting the volunteer sector; improving mental health support; or any other solutions to help ease pressure on people and national services. The initiative is part of the government’s Techforce19 challenge. Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock said: “If people cannot leave the house, we need to quickly find ways to bring support to them and today I am calling on the strength of our innovative technology sector to take on this challenge. “Techforce19 will mobilise the UK’s incredible reservoir of talent to develop simple, accessible tools that can be rolled out quickly and help tackle the effect of social isolation. I am calling on our brilliant tech sector to take on this challenge.”   To send feedback, e-mail lucy.alderson@egi.co.uk or tweet @LucyAJourno or @estatesgazette