Huawei ICT Competition: Unlocking AI-Powered Innovation in Healthcare
A guest post from the University of Kragujevac Huawei ICT Competition team, Grand Prize Winners of the Innovation Competition for their solution: Enhanced Optimization of Fluid Volume Control in Hemodialysis Using Federated Learning.
There is no simple way to describe the unique travel experience of our team from the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Čačak, University of Kragujevac.
Our goal was to participate in the global Huawei ICT Competition.
The idea that brought us here is the result of our university's cooperation with the University Children's Clinic in Tiršova. Collaborators from the clinic set us a big challenge: how to make the hemodialysis process simpler, more efficient and less dependent on the immediate experience of the doctor?
We came up with the idea of developing an application that uses machine learning and artificial intelligence methods to determine the optimal amount of fluid that needs to be removed during hemodialysis, as well as the optimal speed at which the process is carried out, based on the patient's data and his or her parameters during hemodialysis.
During the development of the application, we learned about the Huawei ICT Innovation Competition and considered it a great opportunity to validate our idea on a global level. We received the first confirmation of the perspective of the idea when we qualified for the global finals in Shenzhen, China. From that moment, we started working intensively on the way in which we will present our idea and the need for such a project as simply as possible - so that even those who are not familiar with this issue can understand the importance and applicability of the solutions we offer.
The final goal is to manifest this idea as a system that will improve the quality of hemodialysis for many patients suffering from end stage kidney disease.
The global stage of the competition was much more than just a review of the teams' achievements - it relied on a deep human need for common progress through the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and ideas. There were many opportunities to meet competitors and their mentors from all continents, and such contacts are one of the pillars of the mutual technological development of all countries involved. As a result of the friendly atmosphere, the interaction between competitors, mentors, and representatives of Huawei company and Chinese universities was rich and brought a lot of different opinions to a common table where exciting steps into the future were discussed. We would especially like to highlight the conversation with a professor from the University of Wuhan who encouraged and advised us in every way, and further confirmed that our idea is something that could really contribute to the general increase in the well-being of patients and greatly improve their quality of life.
As a final affirmation of the perspective and importance of this project is the fact that our team was awarded the Grand Prize for the ICT Innovation Competition, which will certainly further encourage us to focus our efforts on its further development.
The Serbian team (second from left) receiving the Grand Prize
Shenzhen: Traditional meets modern
Our visit to China opened our eyes to a different, hitherto unknown and exotic world of development and technological progress. What we saw in China can hardly be explained by the simple geographical distance between the known world and this country. It was obvious that the country's technological progress was deeply woven into its philosophy of constant development and striving for the better. The immediate combination of traditional lifestyle and modern technology was clearly reflected in the daily life of the people we met on the streets of Shenzhen. fThe city of Shenzhen gives the impression of a quiet giant that has a lot to offer - from endless professional development opportunities for those who come for work - to old, traditional neighborhoods that are a mirror of Chinese history in miniature.
Meet the team
L to R: Saša Cvetković, Professor, Instructor; Tatjana Lazović, PhD Student; Stefan Ćirković, PhD Student and Junior Assistant; Mihailo Knežević, PhD Student and Assistant
2024-2025 ICT global finals highlights
Learn more about Huawei ICT Academy and the Huawei ICT Competition.
Disclaimer: Any views and/or opinions expressed in this post by individual authors or contributors are their personal views and/or opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views and/or opinions of Huawei Technologies.
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