IT-Hackathon organized by MTS and AFC "System" had 60 students participating
In Tomsk, over a hundred artificial intelligence students from various regions across Russia participated in an IT hackathon, organized by MTS and the System Foundation, which took place during the U-NOVUS forum. The hackathon focused on developing technological solutions for environmental monitoring and enhancing the safety of self-driving scooters.
Initially, it was announced that the U-NOVUS forum, a national event for young scientists, took place in Tomsk from the 21st to the 23rd of May. During this forum, the System Foundation and MTS hosted the IT hackathon, during which students and IT professionals from across Russia worked on digital solutions.
Participants in the hackathon hailed from Tomsk and other cities, including Kaliningrad, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Chelyabinsk, and more. The youngest participant was 18 years old, while the oldest was 58.
A total of 24 teams of IT specialists competed in the creation of socially meaningful digital products and proposed innovative solutions. For instance, in the "Attention Test before Riding an Electrical Scooter" track, participants were required to develop an interactive tool for self-assessment by scooter drivers prior to renting. The team AscentWay from Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) won this track.
Another track, "Local Weather Forecast Based on Real-time Measurements from Meteorological Stations," required the development of a digital instrument to improve weather forecasts for a 24-hour period within a 100-kilometer radius, thereby preventing adverse weather conditions from affecting outdoor workers. The jury awarded the victory in this track to the team "Hackathoners" from Tomsk State University (TGU).
Anton Gridnev, the MTS director for Tomsk Oblast, commented, "The IT hackathon attracted a wide interest from the IT community. This shows the high demand for such events where aspiring IT specialists tackle real-world business problems and achieve their goals in technology."
The prize fund for the hackathon totaled 750,000 rubles. The winning teams in each category received 150,000 rubles for first place, 125,000 rubles for second place, and 100,000 rubles for third place. Additionally, throughout the hackathon, lectures were given by current team leaders and digital product managers from leading Russian companies.
[Enrichment Data] Although the U-NOVUS-2025 forum included the MTS-sponsored IT hackathon focused on digital solutions and innovation, further details suggest a broader program, which supported a range of technology and entrepreneurial initiatives such as master classes, open lessons, and entrepreneurial games, potentially covering diverse digital themes like sustainable technology and smart transport safety. However, the precise focus of the hackathon on specific projects, such as environmental monitoring and autonomous mobility, can only be inferred and is not explicitly confirmed.
Students participating in the IT hackathon, during the U-NOVUS forum in Tomsk, worked on digital solutions not only for environmental monitoring and enhancing the safety of self-driving scooters but also probably explored diverse digital themes like sustainable technology and smart transport safety. This event, focused on innovation, offered education-and-self-development opportunities for the participants.
