Madrid, Spain

ECIJA, a leading technology-focused global law firm based in Madrid, has helped develop a free tool to connect local governments and health care institutions to private-sector companies and individuals who can supply help in combating the coronavirus crisis.

SOS COVID-19 is a cloud-based platform that users can access remotely to publish needs or offer solutions, ECIJA said in a statement.

The platform asks two questions: "Do you need help?" and "Can you help?" Once parties connect through the secure site, their contact information is shared so that they can move quickly to a solution, ECIJA said.

Developed in less than two weeks, the platform has helped create an aid network to provide a hospital center in Madrid with 1,500 gowns, 8,000 caps and 2,000 masks, among other materials, according to a statement from ECIJA.

The platform has also helped obtain funding to acquire material for the production of 3,000 washable and reusable face shields, the statement said.

The firm said SOS COVID-19 is fully compliant with European rules on data protection and privacy.

The other partners in SOS COVID-19 are the iHelp Foundation, a charitable crowdfunding organization in Spain; IE University, a private international university with campuses in Madrid and Segovia; and the global IT companies ServiceNow and Volteo.

SOS COVID-19 is the latest in ECIJA's efforts to help with the coronavirus crisis in Spain, one of the hardest-hit countries in Europe.

The firm this month announced the development of an electronic signature mechanism to certify workplace travel as required by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior. It also offers free advice to startups through the Spanish Startup Association.