The 2024 Student Hackathon: Digitalisation for Development was hosted by the University of Central Asia (UCA) earlier this month in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. The event brought together 70 talented students from universities in Bishkek and various regions of the country such as Naryn and Tokmok. Demonstrating a strong interest in digital innovation within the country’s student community, the hackathon attracted about 200 applications from universities nationwide. Participants from institutions such as UCA, Kyrgyz State Technical University, Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, Ala-Too International University, Kyrgyz National Agrarian University (KNAU), and the American University of Central Asia competed, developingsocially impactful digital solutions focusing on three key areas: the digitalisation of public services; artificial intelligence (AI), big data and cybersecurity; and quality of life/smart cities.