Care About IT international hackathon held on March 13-14, brought together 150 participants, 30 mentors, and tackled 9 real-world healthcare challenges. Over two days, students, healthcare professionals and tech enthusiasts joined forces to co-create innovative solutions aimed at transforming the future of healthcare.
The hackathon was a collaborative effort between partners from Finland, the Netherlands, Estonia and Italy, with students participating from a range of institutions, including:
· DCTerra
· Turku Vocational Institute
· Tallinn Health University of Applied Sciences
· Drenthe College
· ITS ICT Academy – Italy
· Zetech University
· Apro Formazione
· Pärnumaa Vocational Education Centre
· Kood/Jõhvi
· Valga County Vocational Training Centre
· Estonian Business School
This mix of backgrounds brought fresh, multidisciplinary perspectives to each challenge - ranging from easing children’s pain during medical procedures using technology, to boosting AI awareness among healthcare professionals.
Creating a smooth, collaborative environment for a diverse group of participants from different countries, cultures, age groups and professional backgrounds was the hackaton biggest challenge.
Hackaton´s biggest success was that despite juggling tight timelines and massive logistics, the organizing team managed to turn chaotic spreadsheets into a well-executed digital experience, complete with Zoom breakout rooms, live broadcasts, mentoring sessions, pitching workshops, and real-time support. Students got to experience their first hackathon in a supportive, interactive, and inspiring environment.
The winning team was from Estonia, from Tallinn Health University of Applied Sciences
and they were taking on the pressing challenge of reducing and reusing hospital waste. Their solution stood out for its innovation, feasibility, and impact potential in driving sustainable healthcare.
The Care About IT hackathon proved that when diverse minds come together with purpose, real healthcare innovation can happen. While challenges remain, the creativity and commitment shown by students signal a promising future for healthcare technology and digital health. As we move forward, these collaborations will continue to shape smarter, more human-centered healthcare across Europe.
