Yandex Uzbekistan Partners for National Transport Hackathon

Yandex Uzbekistan has joined forces with the Ministry of Transport and the Center for Digital Transport to inaugurate Uzbekistan's inaugural National Transport Hackathon in Tashkent.

This three-day event will see participants crafting digital services and artificial intelligence solutions specifically for the transportation industry. The initiative seeks to cultivate an AI ecosystem within transport, expedite digital transformation, and empower young professionals.

Teams will showcase projects designed to enhance public mobility across air, rail, and road transport, integrate AI into the ministry's information systems, and analyze large datasets.

During the opening ceremony, Minister of Transport Ilkhom Makhkamov underscored that the digitalization of transport remains a paramount reform objective, emphasizing the crucial role of youth skills and initiative in propelling the sector's expansion. He also announced the ministry's intention to establish the National Transport Hackathon as a recurring event.

First Deputy Minister of Transport Mamanbiy Omarov reported that the ministry is currently implementing over 40 digital projects. Approximately 5 million individuals utilize the ministry's information systems each month, and all 22 public services have been digitized. Omarov indicated that the subsequent phase involves broadening AI integration, with the hackathon specifically designed to produce actionable solutions.

Sardor Kadyrov, Vice President for Strategic Development at Yandex Uzbekistan, highlighted the increasing dependence of transport systems on data, algorithms, and AI. He stated that Yandex routinely employs machine learning, mapping technology, and big data analysis to advance urban mobility services and aims to impart this knowledge to young specialists tackling real-world transport issues in Uzbekistan.

Throughout the hackathon, specialists in transport, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital products will collaborate with participants to develop prototypes and digital services aimed at boosting transport efficiency and service quality.