From January 20th to 23rd, Samarkand will host the next stage of the National AI Hackathon — one of the largest competitions in Uzbekistan’s digital development sector. The initiative gives talented specialists from across the country the opportunity to showcase their skills and receive support in implementing their own solutions in the field of artificial intelligence.

“The National AI Hackathon is an opportunity for young professionals to contribute to the future of the country. We are confident that the Samarkand stage will give rise to new ideas and projects that will become part of Uzbekistan’s digital transformation,” said Abdulahad Kuchkarov, CEO of IT Park.

“Artificial intelligence–based services are already an integral part of Uzum’s products today, creating real value for millions of Uzbekistanis. For us, it is important not only to develop cutting-edge solutions, but also to share practical experience with young professionals,” says Jasur Jumayev, CEO and founder of Uzum. “We actively support projects that give talented young people the opportunity to grow, work on real-world challenges, and develop professionally. It is a great honor for Uzum to support the national hackathon and contribute to the development of a new generation of AI specialists in Uzbekistan.”

Participants of the hackathon will work on projects in areas such as healthcare, cybersecurity, education, entrepreneurship, and prohibited substances circulation control using AI technologies, while receiving guidance from mentors from leading IT companies in the country. In addition, workshops and seminars with IT experts are planned for participants. Winners will not only receive valuable prizes but also have the chance to attract funding for the full launch of their projects.

The project is being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Digital Technologies, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education, Science and Innovation, the Ministry of Public and Preschool Education, IT Park Uzbekistan, AICA, ML Community Uzbekistan, and Uzinfocom. The hackathon’s general sponsor and partner is the national digital ecosystem Uzum, along with other IT companies in the country.

Team registration is open until January 17 via the website ai-hackathon.uz. At this stage, only residents of the Samarkand region are eligible to participate.

The first stage of the National AI Hackathon was launched in October 2025 and will be held across all regions of the country until the end of 2026. The final stage will take place in December 2026 in Tashkent, where the best teams from across Uzbekistan will present their AI innovations.