UIU hosts Bangladesh’s first Harvard Health Systems Innovation Lab Hackathon 2025
Two Bangladeshi teams have emerged victorious at the national round of the Harvard Health Systems Innovation Lab (HSIL) Hackathon 2025, held at United International University (UIU) on 12 April.
Organised by UIU's Institute for Research, Innovation, Incubation, and Commercialization (IRIIC), the two-day competition marked Bangladesh's debut as an official regional hub in the global health innovation event. The 6th edition of the Harvard HSIL Hackathon was themed "Building High-Value Health Systems: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence," bringing together more than 3,000 participants from 19 countries.
TEAM NURIX earned accolades for their use of brain-computer interface technology in tackling mental health challenges, while TEAM SMARTENDO was recognised for their AI-driven personalised care model targeting endometriosis. Both teams received certificates, prize money, and an invitation to join the Harvard HSIL Venture Incubation Program—a four-week global mentorship and startup development initiative.
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The hackathon's Bangladesh round was held in partnership with the Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development (DEIED) Project of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, the Ministry of ICT, and the MIS unit of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The finale featured a distinguished jury panel, including Dr Rui Liu, Health Specialist at ADB; Dr Arif Mahmud, Group Medical Director at Evercare Hospital; Dr Shah Ali Akbar Ashrafi, Director of MIS at DGHS; Fahima Chowdhury, Director at Adcomm; Dr Muhammad Zahirul Islam, Health Advisor at the Embassy of Sweden; and Prof Khondaker A Mamun, Director of IRIIC.
UIU Vice-Chancellor Prof Abul Kashem Mia, PhD, presided over the programme. Guests of honour included Md Saidur Rahman, Secretary of the Health Services Division; Prof Dr Md Abu Jafor, DG of DGHS; and Monjur Mohammad Shahriar, Project Director of DEIED.
This milestone positions IRIIC and UIU as key players in global healthcare innovation. Through its collaboration with Harvard HSIL, the university aims to continue fostering interdisciplinary solutions and shaping the future of Bangladesh's healthcare ecosystem.
