AI Hackathon in Healthcare Kicks Off in Nukus

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 2 October 2025, the HealthTech AI Hackathon began in Nukus, the capital of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, marking the first stage of a national project to hold a large-scale artificial intelligence hackathon.

The initiative is implemented with the participation of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Digital Technologies, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations, Ministry of Preschool and School Education, the Jokargy Kenes, IT Park Uzbekistan, and Uzinfocom. Major private sector partners supporting the project include Yandex Uzbekistan, Uzum, Click, ZTE, Central Asian University, New Uzbekistan University, and AKFA.

The program runs from October 2025 through December 2026 and will cover all 14 regions of Uzbekistan. The first stage already involves over 100 participants organized into 26 teams. They are developing innovative solutions for healthcare, education, the judicial system, water management, and entrepreneurship. The project’s final stage will take place in December 2026 in Tashkent.

The main goal of the Nukus hackathon is to accelerate the digital transformation of the healthcare system and create a national platform that unites the medical community with IT specialists to advance eHealth solutions. Participants include students from medical and technical universities, young doctors, IT experts, and representatives of medical institutions. Mentorship programs, workshops, and seminars are provided for participants.

The best projects will receive grants and gain access to acceleration and incubation programs, as well as attract venture fund investments for further implementation.

Experts note that digitalization plays a key role in improving healthcare efficiency. Artificial intelligence and big data technologies enable early disease detection, medical image analysis, and prediction of chronic disease progression, affecting around 30% of the population.

Additionally, telemedicine increases access to healthcare for residents in remote areas, while wearable digital devices help monitor health in real time and promote a culture of healthy living.

The AI Hackathon project aims to lay the foundation for the development of digital healthcare in Uzbekistan and unlock the country’s IT potential in the eHealth sector.