In a groundbreaking collaboration, UNIST and the University of Ulsan College of Medicine joined forces to host the inaugural ‘UUCM & UNIST Digital Healthcare Hackathon.‘ The event took place in the Market Hall and Event Hall of the University-Industry Cooperation Building at UNIST from November 17 to 18, 2023.
The hackathon aimed to foster innovation and discover promising startup ideas in the field of digital healthcare through intensive collaboration over a short period. Fifty-six students from UNIST and the University of Ulsan College of Medicine, who are currently enrolled in the UNIST-U of U College of Medicine Health Sciences Technology (HST) Program, participated in the competition. This program, similar to the renowned Harvard-MIT Program in HST, is a joint interdisciplinary course that efficiently integrates scientific and medical education, operated by both universities to nurture physician-scientists. Notably, the UNIST―U of U College of Medicine HST Program stands out by offering undergraduate-level courses.
The competition covered a range of topics, including patient monitoring and management, medical and diagnostic imaging, telemedicine, emergency medical care, and drug selection. Students presented innovative startup ideas that leverage digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data to revolutionize the medical field.
Team GTA won the grand prize with their app development idea, aimed at enhancing communication with individuals on the autism spectrum. In addition, four other teams (DODO, NEBULA, STEM, and USU) were recognized as excellent teams. These five selected teams will receive exclusive training opportunities in prestigious institutions in the United States, including UCLA, in January next year.
Sung Chul Bae, Director of the UNIST Graduate School of Health Science and Technology, said, “I hope this competition will fuel interest in the convergence of digital healthcare technology and medical science, and further enhance collaboration among students from diverse disciplines.”
The hackathon was organized by the UNIST Graduate School of Health Science and Technology, the Smart Healthcare Research Center, the UNIST Laboratory Startup Innovation Group, and the Laboratory-Specialized Startup Leading University project, supported by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and ICT. The event was also generously sponsored by LG Plus Corp.
