Urbathon Namangan Brings Young Innovators Together to Develop Digital Solutions for Urban Challenges

July 24, 2026
Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

NAMANGAN, Uzbekistan, 24 July 2026 – More than 60 young developers, startupers, and technology enthusiasts gathered in Namangan for “Urbathon Namangan: Solutions for the City,” a two-day innovation challenge aimed at developing practical digital solutions to address some of the city’s most pressing urban development issues.

Organized by the IT Park Namangan in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the event provided a platform for local innovators to collaborate, exchange ideas, and create technology-driven solutions that can improve urban services and enhance the quality of life for residents.

As one of Uzbekistan’s fastest-growing cities, Namangan is experiencing rapid urbanization, creating new opportunities as well as challenges related to infrastructure, mobility, environmental sustainability, and public services. Urbathon Namangan was designed to harness local talent and creativity to help address these challenges through innovative digital tools and data-driven approaches.

Over the two days, participants worked in teams to develop prototypes of mobile applications, digital platforms, chatbots, dashboards, and other smart-city solutions focused on two key areas:

Urban Waste Management

  • Improving waste collection and route optimization;
  • Encouraging citizen participation in recycling initiatives;
  • Facilitating community reporting of illegal dumping and environmental concerns.

Urban Mobility and Transport

  • Enhancing access to real-time public transport information;
  • Visualizing traffic congestion and mobility patterns;
  • Promoting safer and more accessible urban spaces for pedestrians.

Unlike traditional hackathons, Urbathon Namangan places a strong emphasis on practical implementation and long-term impact. The most promising solutions will have the opportunity to move beyond the prototype stage and be considered for pilot by the Namangan City Administration. In addition, winning teams will receive mentorship opportunities and access to the innovation ecosystem of IT Park to further develop their ideas.

 “This was my first time participating in an urbathon, and the experience was truly amazing! Our project is a B2B platform focused on recycling waste and by-products from the textile industry. Through the platform, companies will be able to offer their production waste to other potential buyers. We are now working as a team to launch the online platform. Our main goal is to make the platform fully operational”, shared Nilufar Abdurahmonova, medical college student.

Another participant, Xadicha Abduxalilova, a third-year student at Namangan State Pedagogical Institute, said that her impressions of the hackathon were very positive. “The knowledge we gained and all the projects presented were truly impressive. Our team proposed an idea focused on repairing malfunctioning traffic lights and surveillance cameras in the city, as well as creating more accessible pedestrian crossings, particularly for persons with disabilities. I believe that if our project is implemented, it could help increase the number of safe areas in our city.”

The initiative was supported through the UNDP projects “Empowering Youth to Embrace the Digital Economy and Digital Entrepreneurship” with financial support from the Russian Federation and “Enhancing Urban Resilience to Disaster Risk and Climate Change in Central Asia”, funded by the Government of Japan. Both projects aim to foster innovation, strengthen local capacities, and support sustainable urban development across Uzbekistan.

The event concluded with a public demonstration and pitching session, during which participating teams presented their solutions to a jury composed of technical experts, urban development specialists, and representatives of local authorities. The presentations showcased the creativity, technical skills, and commitment of Uzbekistan’s young innovators to building smarter, greener, and more resilient cities.

By bringing together technology, civic engagement, and urban development, Urbathon Namangan demonstrates how collaborative innovation can contribute to creating more sustainable, inclusive, and livable cities for future generations.