«Open Data Challenge»: How are open data projects developing?

Sahibjon Safarov, a third-year student of Inha University in Tashkent, participant of the last season of the «Open Data Challenge» hackathon, shared his opinion about the hackathon and talked about how his participation in this event helped him.

At the «Open Data Challenge 2020» hackathon, Sohibjon participated in the social sector and developed the «Saxovat» volunteer platform to help vulnerable people.  The project is aimed at transferring funds to those in need online and converting the iron book into an online format.

The main aim of the project is to provide social assistance to the population, ensure an even distribution of donations per capita across regions and create an opportunity to track donations.

The «Open Data Challenge» is an annual hackathon aimed at developing open data in information technology, entrepreneurship and the economy of Uzbekistan.  The sphere of open data is a tool that allows the development of the economy of Uzbekistan through innovative projects led by talented youth.

The hackathon helps participants to reveal their potential and improve projects, find weaknesses and, together with mentors, turn these weaknesses into strengths.

Also, Sohibjon went through the acceleration program after the end of the hackathon and shared how the program helped him.

«While participating in the «Open Data Challenge» acceleration program, I added a section for requesting assistance using advice provided by the project experts and mentors who helped us,» Sahibjon said.

It should be noted that from 3 to 5 December this year, IT Park and the Ministry for the Development of Information Technologies and Communications of the Republic of Uzbekistan together with the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan, the Dubai Future Foundation, IT Academy, the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Youth agency and the State Committee of the Republic  According to statistics, Uzbekistan will hold the «Open Data Challenge 2021» hackathon with a prize fund of $ 55,000 in order to develop and increase citizens’ interest in using open data.

This year, the hackathon will be held in 4 areas: government, social and business sectors, as well as anti-corruption.  One of the prerequisites for participation in the hackathon is the presence of a certificate of completion of the online course «One Million Uzbek Coders» in one of the four directions, as well as registration of each participant for the hackathon itself.

The first places in each direction will receive $ 11,000, and the 2-3 places will receive valuable prizes.

Moreover, this year the Open Data Cup competition is being organized for projects developed during the previous Open Data Challenge hackathons (from 2018 to 2020).

The main criteria for participation in the «Open Data Cup» competition is the submission of a project developed at the «Open Data Challenge» hackathon, as well as significant progress after the completion of last year’s hackathons.  The prize fund of the competition is $ 6,000.

Detailed criterias for participation in the hackathon and competition can be found on the website: https://datahack.uz/