United International University (UIU) hosted the seventh edition of the Harvard Health Systems Innovation Lab (HSIL) Hackathon 2026 at its Institute of Research Innovation Incubation and Commercialization (IRIIC), bringing together innovators to develop artificial intelligence-driven healthcare solutions.
The event marked the second consecutive year UIU has served as the only Bangladesh hub for the global competition.
Bangladesh Medical Research Council Chairman Professor Sayeba Akhter attended as special guest, while Directorate General of Health Services Director Administration Professor Jalal Uddin Mohammad Rumi joined as guest of honour.
United International University Vice Chancellor Professor Md Abul Kashem Mia chaired the programme.
Held under the theme “Building High-Value Health Systems Leveraging AI”, the hackathon focused on the role of artificial intelligence in improving healthcare quality, accessibility and efficiency.
HSIL 2026 was organised across more than 50 hubs in 46 countries, engaging over 14,000 participants globally.
The Dhaka hub received more than 650 applications, from which 22 teams comprising 98 participants and four individual innovators were selected.
Seventeen teams advanced to the final round.
Two teams emerged as winners of the Bangladesh hub.
Team Maverick, representing Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) and United International University, developed an AI-enabled platform for early detection and support of dyslexia in children through personalised and interactive learning.
The solution integrates performance analytics with guided interventions to support early diagnosis and ongoing skill development.
ShigellaAI Diagnostics Bangladesh, a team from icddr,b, introduced an AI-based clinical decision support tool aimed at improving diagnosis and management of Shigella-related diarrhoeal diseases in resource-constrained settings.
The tool uses routinely available clinical data to generate real-time risk scores to support evidence-based treatment decisions.
The Dhaka winners will advance to the HSIL Global Bootcamp, where they will refine their solutions and compete with teams from other international hubs for global recognition and entry into the HSIL Venture Incubation Programme.
The final round was judged by a panel that included BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health Dean Professor Laura J Reichenbach, Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh Professor Ferdousi Begum, Directorate General of Health Services Deputy Director MIS Kulsum Ara, IRIIC Director UIU Professor Khondaker A Mamun, Startup Bangladesh Managing Director Md Nurul Hai, United Aygaz Chief Executive Officer Harun Ortaç and United Healthcare Services Chief Financial Officer Abu Raihan Al Beruni.
The initiative was supported by Prime Bank and United Healthcare Services Limited as strategic partners.
Other partners included the Embassy of Sweden, Aparajeyo Tarunno and RHSTEPS as SRHR partners, CMED Health as AI health partner, Ispahani Mirzapore Tea as hot beverage partner, and media partners The Business Standard and Banik Barta.
