# ACUHIT HACKATHON - KAGGLE COMPETITION RULES

## Clinical Data to Future Health Scoring Challenge

 

> **ENTRY IN THIS COMPETITION CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE OFFICIAL COMPETITION RULES.**

 

---

 

## 1. COMPETITION-SPECIFIC TERMS

 

### 1.1 Competition Title

ACUHIT Healthcare Innovation and Technology Hackathon - Stage 1: Dynamic Health Scoring Challenge

 

### 1.2 Competition Sponsors

- **ACIBADEM Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University** (Primary Sponsor)

- **ACIBADEM Healthcare Group** (Co-Sponsor)

 

### 1.3 Competition Sponsor Address

Kerem Aydınlar Campus, Istanbul, Turkey

 

### 1.4 Competition Website

https://www.kaggle.com/competitions/acuhit-hackathon

 

### 1.5 Prizes

**Stage 1 (Video Application Phase):**

- Top 16 teams qualify for Stage 2 Campus Hackathon

- Campus Hackathon Total Prize Pool: **300,000 TL**

 

### 1.6 Winner License Type

Participants retain intellectual property ownership while granting sponsors a worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with sublicensing rights.

 

### 1.7 Data Access and Use

Competition Data is provided solely for use in this competition. Participants may not use, distribute, or publish the data outside the scope of this competition.

 

---

 

## 2. COMPETITION-SPECIFIC RULES

 

### 2.1 Competition Structure

 

This competition consists of **TWO STAGES**:

 

#### Stage 1: Data Analysis and YouTube Video Application (3 weeks)

- Participants download the training dataset from Kaggle and develop their data processing and modeling approaches

- Each team submits a 10-minute YouTube video (5 min team introduction + 5 min model/approach presentation) to the organization team

- Videos are evaluated by jury and scientific content committee based on technical competence, originality, clinical relevance, and presentation quality

- Top 16 teams advance to Stage 2

 

#### Stage 2: Campus Hackathon (March 6-8, 2026)

- Finalist teams attend 48-hour on-campus event at ACIBADEM University

- **REQUIRED:** All participants must be in 4-6 person teams

- Teams develop practical solutions based on insights from Stage 1

- Final presentations to jury panel

- Winners announced and prizes awarded

 

---

 

### 2.2 Team Limits

 

#### Stage 1 (Data Analysis and Video Application):

a. Minimum team size: 1 person (individual participation allowed)  

b. Maximum team size: 6 people  

c. Team mergers are allowed until the merger deadline  

d. Both individuals and teams can compete  

 

#### Stage 2 (Campus Hackathon):

a. **REQUIRED team size: 4-6 people (mandatory)**  

b. No individual participation in Stage 2  

c. If you qualify as an individual or small team (<4 people), you must either:

   - Form or join a team before campus event, **OR**

   - Be assigned to a team by organizers  

d. Team formation deadline: **March 4, 2026 (20:00 TRT)**

 

#### Team Formation Process for Stage 2:

- Finalists will be announced on March 2, 2026

- Individual qualifiers and small teams can network via dedicated forum/group

- Organizers will facilitate team matching based on skills and interests

- All team formations must be finalized by March 4, 2026 (20:00 TRT)

- Assigned teams will be balanced for complementary skills

 

---

 

### 2.3 Video Submission Requirements

a. Each team must submit one 10-minute YouTube video as their Stage 1 application  

b. Video format: first 5 minutes for team introduction (members, skills, motivation), last 5 minutes for technical model/approach presentation  

d. Final rankings determined by jury and scientific content committee evaluation of submitted videos  

 

---

 

### 2.4 Competition Timeline

 

#### Stage 1: Data Analysis and Video Application

| Milestone | Date |

|---|---|

| Dataset Published on Kaggle | February 16, 2026 |

| Team Formation Deadline | February 25, 2026 |

| Video Submission Deadline | March 1, 2026 |

| Results Announcement | March 2, 2026 |

 

#### Stage 2: Campus Hackathon

- **Date:** March 6-8, 2026

- **Location:** ACIBADEM University Kerem Aydınlar Campus, Istanbul

 

---

 

### 2.5 Competition Data

 

#### 2.5.1 Problem Statement

Participants will develop AI models to:

 

1. **Process Unstructured Clinical Data:** Use Natural Language Processing (NLP) to extract meaningful clinical features from:

   - Doctor's notes

   - Nurse observations

   - Discharge summaries (epikriz reports)

   - Free-text clinical documentation

 

2. **Develop Dynamic Health Scoring:** Create mathematically meaningful and clinically valid health parameters that represent:

   - Overall patient health status

   - Systemic function indicators

   - Novel health metrics not currently in literature

 

3. **Predict Clinical Outcomes:** Forecast:

   - Patient prognosis

   - Length of Stay (LOS)

   - Required examinations and procedures

   - Resource utilization needs

 

#### 2.5.2 Data Access and Use

- **Competition Use Only:** Data may only be used for this competition

- **No External Distribution:** Participants may not share, publish, or distribute the data

- **Anonymization:** All data is fully anonymized and contains no personally identifiable information

- **Data Security:** Participants must maintain appropriate security measures to protect the data

 

#### 2.5.3 Data Description

Training data includes:

- Anonymized clinical text records (Turkish language)

- Laboratory results

- Vital signs

- Structured and unstructured clinical data

- Target variables for prediction tasks

 

> **Note:** Kaggle is used solely as a data sharing platform. There is no automated leaderboard evaluation. Teams will be evaluated based on their YouTube video submissions.

 

- Video evaluation criteria: Technical competence, originality, clinical relevance, and presentation quality

- Finalist selection: Top 16 teams selected by jury and scientific content committee based on video evaluations

 

---

 

### 2.6 Evaluation Metrics

 

*[Stage 1 evaluation is based on YouTube video submissions reviewed by jury and scientific content committee]*

 

Video submissions will be evaluated on:

- **Technical Competence:** Quality of data processing approach and model methodology

- **Originality:** Novelty and creativity of the proposed approach

- **Clinical Validity:** Meaningfulness of extracted features and predictions

 

---

 

### 2.7 External Data and Tools

 

#### 2.7.1 External Data

Participants may use publicly available external data that is:

- Freely accessible to all participants

- Properly documented and cited

- Not proprietary or requiring expensive licenses

 

Acceptable external data sources include:

- Medical literature and clinical guidelines

- Public health datasets (WHO, Ministry of Health open data)

- Pre-trained NLP models (BERT, BioBERT, etc.)

- Medical ontologies (ICD-10, SNOMED CT, etc.)

 

#### 2.7.2 Automated Machine Learning Tools (AMLT)

- Participants may use AutoML tools (e.g., H2O.ai, AutoKeras, etc.)

- Must ensure appropriate licensing for competition use

- Must be able to explain model architecture and methodology

 

#### 2.7.3 Reasonableness Standard

External resources must be "reasonably accessible" to all participants:

- No excessive costs (generally under $100 USD)

- No geographic restrictions

- Available for academic/competition use

 

---

 

### 2.8 Eligibility

 

#### 2.8.1 Who Can Participate

- **Open Worldwide:** This competition is open to anyone globally who is 18 years or older

- **Age Requirement:** Must be 18 years of age or older (or age of majority in your jurisdiction)

- **Students Welcome:** University students at any level (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral) from any institution worldwide

- **Professionals Welcome:** Healthcare professionals, data scientists, researchers, and engineers

- **Geographic:** No geographic restrictions except as noted in Section 2.8.2

 

#### 2.8.2 Restrictions

The following individuals/entities are **NOT eligible** to participate:

- Competition organizers (ACUHIT organizing team members) and their immediate family members

- Jury members for Stage 2 and their immediate family members

 

**Participation with Prize Restrictions:**

- Employees and faculty of ACIBADEM University may participate but are not eligible for monetary prizes (eligible for recognition and certificates only)

- Employees of ACIBADEM Healthcare Group may participate but are not eligible for monetary prizes (eligible for recognition and certificates only)

 

#### 2.8.3 Multidisciplinary Teams Encouraged

Teams are encouraged to include diverse backgrounds:

- Medicine and health sciences students/professionals

- Computer science and engineering students/professionals

- Biomedical engineering students/professionals

- Data scientists and AI/ML specialists

- Business and management professionals

- Design and user experience specialists

- Anyone passionate about healthcare innovation

 

---

 

### 2.9 Finalist Obligations (Stage 2 Requirements)

 

#### 2.9.1 Team Formation Requirement

**MANDATORY:** All campus participants must be part of a 4-6 person team.

 

If you qualified as an individual or team of less than 4 people:

- You will receive access to a finalist networking platform/group

- Use this to connect with other finalists and form teams

- Team formation deadline: **March 4, 2026 (20:00 TRT)**

- If you do not form a team by the deadline, organizers will assign you to a team

 

**Team Assignment Process:**

- Organizers will review skills, backgrounds, and preferences of unmatched finalists

- Teams will be balanced to include diverse skill sets when possible

- You will be notified of your team assignment with contact information

- First team meeting can occur at campus opening session

 

#### 2.9.2 Video Submission Requirement

 

**To submit your video:**

1. Record a 10-minute video: first 5 minutes for team introduction, last 5 minutes for model/approach presentation

2. Upload the video to YouTube (unlisted or public)

4. Ensure the video is accessible (not set to private) throughout the evaluation period

5. Video must be submitted by the announced deadline

6. Failure to submit video by the deadline will result in disqualification

 

**What we evaluate in the video:**

- Team composition, skills, and motivation

- Data processing approach and model methodology

- Data processing and feature engineering steps

 

**What we guarantee:**

- Videos reviewed only by jury and scientific content committee

- Confidential review by authorized organizers only

- Used only for verification and judging purposes

- Your IP rights remain fully protected (per Section 2.10)

 

#### 2.9.3 Attendance Requirement

- Attend the full 48-hour campus hackathon (March 6-8, 2026)

- Participate in all scheduled sessions and presentations

- Be available for mentor consultations

 

#### 2.9.4 Documentation Requirements

- Provide detailed code documentation

- Submit model architecture descriptions

- Explain methodology and approach

- Provide reproducible results with instructions

 

- Sign Competition Participation and Rights Agreement Form

- Provide eligibility certifications

- Complete required tax forms (if applicable for prizes)

- Acknowledge license grant to sponsors (per Section 2.10)

 

#### 2.9.6 Solution Development

During Stage 2, teams must:

- Develop a practical solution/product based on Stage 1 insights

- Address real-world healthcare problems identified in the data

- Present innovative, implementable technology solutions

- Submit project report following TÜBİTAK/TÜSEB project format

 

---

 

### 2.10 Intellectual Property Rights

 

Participants retain ownership of their intellectual property while granting sponsors a comprehensive non-exclusive license.

 

#### 2.10.1 Participant IP Ownership

By participating in this competition, you retain full ownership of:

- All code, algorithms, and models you develop

- All designs, interfaces, and creative works you produce

- All documentation, reports, and presentations you create

- All innovations, inventions, and discoveries you make

 

Your work remains your intellectual property before, during, and after the competition. You are free to commercialize, license, or use your work independently.

 

#### 2.10.2 License Grant to Sponsors

In exchange for the competition resources, prizes, data access, mentorship, and opportunities provided by the sponsors, participants grant ACIBADEM Healthcare Group a **worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive license** (with the right to sublicense) over all submitted works ("Works").

 

**Under this license, sponsors may:**

i. Use the Works for commercial or non-commercial purposes  

ii. Develop, modify, and adapt the Works  

iii. Create derivative works based on the Works  

iv. Integrate the Works into their own products, services, or projects  

v. Transfer or sublicense the Works to third parties  

vi. Publish the Works as open-source or closed-source  

 

#### 2.10.3 Moral Rights Waiver

- The Works may be used anonymously or under sponsor branding

- Participant's name may not be attributed in sponsor's use of the Works

- Sponsors may modify the Works without seeking further approval

 

Participants' moral rights under FSEK are otherwise preserved.

 

#### 2.10.4 Participant Warranties

Participants represent and warrant that:

i. The Works are original  

ii. The Works do not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights  

iii. Participants have the authority to grant this license  

 

In case of any claim to the contrary, participants shall indemnify sponsors for any direct damages incurred.

 

#### 2.10.5 Team Submissions

If Works are developed by multiple participants (team submission), each participant acknowledges that the terms of this license apply to all team members. Sponsors shall not be held responsible for any disputes arising among team members.

 

#### 2.10.6 Promotional Use

 

#### 2.10.7 Open Source and Publication Rights

**You are free to:**

- Open-source your code (with appropriate licenses)

- Publish academic papers about your methodology

- Present your work at conferences

- Include the project in your portfolio

- Use your learnings in future projects

 

**However, you must NOT:**

- Publicly share the competition training/test data (confidential)

- Violate any patient privacy or data protection laws

- Misrepresent ACIBADEM's involvement or endorsement

 

#### 2.10.8 Data Usage Restrictions

While you own your models and code:

- Competition data remains property of ACIBADEM Healthcare Group

- Competition data may **NOT** be redistributed, published, or used outside this competition

- Any future use of similar data requires separate data sharing agreements

- All data must be deleted after competition concludes (except aggregate non-identifiable insights)

 

#### 2.10.9 Third-Party IP

If your solution incorporates third-party software, libraries, or resources:

- You must ensure proper licensing compliance

- You must disclose all third-party components

- You must ensure compatibility with open-source sharing (if applicable)

- You are responsible for any IP infringement issues

 

#### 2.10.10 Patent Rights

- Participants retain right to patent their innovations

- If filing patents based on competition work, participants should acknowledge competition participation and data sources

 

#### 2.10.11 Collaborative Development

Winning teams may be invited to continue developing their solutions with sponsor support:

- Such collaborations will be governed by separate agreements

- Terms negotiated in good faith based on contribution and resources

- Potential opportunities through ACIBADEM TEKMER incubation programs

 

---

 

### 2.11 Code Sharing Requirements

 

#### 2.11.1 Private Code Sharing

- Prohibited between separate teams during competition

- Allowed within registered teams only

- Team mergers allowed within specified deadlines

 

#### 2.11.2 Public Code Sharing

- Permitted on Kaggle discussion forums/notebooks for collaborative learning

- Must be shared with ALL participants equally

- Shared code deemed licensed under open-source license for competition use

- Encourages collaborative learning environment

 

---

 

### 2.12 Determining Finalists and Winners

 

#### 2.12.1 Stage 1: Video Application Finalists Selection

- Top 16 teams selected by jury and scientific content committee based on YouTube video evaluations

- Videos evaluated based on: technical competence, originality, clinical relevance, and presentation quality

- Methodology review may be conducted for shortlisted teams

- Verification of methodology and reproducibility required

 

#### 2.12.2 Stage 2: Final Winner Selection

Winners determined by jury evaluation based on:

 

| Criterion | Weight |

|---|---|

| Innovation (Creativity and originality) | 25% |

| Problem-Solving Impact (Healthcare benefit) | 25% |

| Feasibility (Practical implementability) | 20% |

| Technical Quality (Code quality and robustness) | 15% |

| User Experience/Design (Usability and accessibility) | 10% |

| Presentation (Communication effectiveness) | 5% |

 

---

 

### 2.13 Awards Ceremony

 

#### 2.13.1 Prize Structure

Prizes awarded during closing ceremony on **March 8, 2026**.

 

**Kerem Aydınlar Healthcare Technology and Innovation Awards:**

- Named in honor of Kerem Aydınlar to embody the Aydınlar family's commitment to youth innovation

- Represents the vision to empower young talents in healthcare technology

- Intended to become an annual tradition at ACIBADEM University

 

#### 2.13.2 Prize Distribution

- For team winners, prizes split equally among eligible team members unless team specifies different arrangement

- All finalists receive participation certificates

- Winners receive achievement certificates

- Recognition on university website and social media

 

#### 2.13.3 Non-Monetary Benefits

- Mentorship opportunities with industry experts

- Access to ACIBADEM TEKMER incubation programs

- Networking with healthcare investors and professionals

- Potential for project continuation and real-world implementation

 

---

 

### 2.14 Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure

 

#### 2.14.1 Competition Integrity

Until Stage 2 completion, participants must **NOT**:

- Share project details with non-team members

- Post complete solutions publicly before competition ends

- Discuss specific approaches with other teams during competition

- Violate competition fairness through information sharing

 

**After Competition:**

- You may publicly share your work, publish papers, open-source code

- You retain all rights to your methodology and innovations

- You must still protect competition data (see 2.14.2)

 

#### 2.14.2 Data Confidentiality

> ⚠️ **CRITICAL — These restrictions remain permanent:**

 

- Clinical competition data is strictly confidential

- Must not be shared, published, or distributed outside competition

- Cannot be used for any other research or projects without separate data sharing agreement

- Must be deleted from all systems after competition ends

- Only aggregate, non-identifiable insights may be retained

 

#### 2.14.3 Sharing Your Own Work

After competition completion, you are encouraged to:

- Share your code on GitHub or similar platforms

- Write blog posts about your approach

- Present at conferences and meetups

- Include in your portfolio and resume

- Publish academic papers (with proper attribution)

 

> **Just remember: Never share the competition data itself.**

 

---

 

### 2.15 Finalist Verification (Stage 1)

 

Stage 1 finalists must complete all requirements by **March 4, 2026**:

- Respond to notification within 48 hours

- Submit YouTube video by the deadline (per Section 2.9.2)

- Pass code review and reproducibility check

- Confirm Stage 2 attendance

 

Failure to comply may result in disqualification.

 

---

 

## 3. GENERAL COMPETITION RULES

 

### 3.1 Competition Period

 

**Stage 1 — Data Analysis and Video Application:**

- Duration: 3 weeks

- February 16 – March 1, 2026

 

**Stage 2 — Campus Hackathon:**

- Date: March 6-8, 2026

- Location: ACIBADEM University Kerem Aydınlar Campus

- Format: 48-hour intensive development marathon

 

### 3.2 No Purchase Necessary

Participation is completely free of charge. All costs for Stage 2 (meals, workspace, materials) covered by organizers.

 

### 3.3 Competition Platform

- **Stage 1:** Kaggle.com (data sharing platform) + YouTube (video submission)

- **Stage 2:** ACIBADEM University campus facilities

- Participants must have Kaggle account to access dataset and a YouTube account for video submission

- Must agree to Kaggle Terms of Service

 

### 3.4 Multiple Accounts Prohibited

- One Kaggle account per person for data access

- Each team may submit only one video application

- Violation results in disqualification

 

### 3.5 Privacy and Data Protection

In compliance with **KVKK** (Turkish Personal Data Protection Law):

- Participant personal information collected for competition administration

- Data shared between ACIBADEM University and ACIBADEM Healthcare Group

- Participants may request access, correction, or deletion of personal data

- Competition data is fully anonymized and KVKK-compliant

 

### 3.6 Publicity Rights

Participants agree that organizers may:

- Use names and likenesses for promotional purposes

- Photograph/video events and share publicly

- Announce winners and projects publicly

- Feature successful projects in marketing materials

 

### 3.7 Warranty and Indemnity

Participants warrant that:

- Submissions are original work

- No third-party IP rights violated

- All used external resources properly licensed

- Information provided is accurate

 

Participants indemnify organizers against any claims arising from IP infringement, breach of competition rules, misrepresentation, or violation of applicable laws.

 

### 3.8 Limitation of Liability

Organizers not responsible for:

- Technical malfunctions or internet connectivity issues

- Lost or corrupted submissions

- Errors in competition platform

- Changes to competition schedule due to force majeure

 

### 3.9 Right to Modify or Cancel

Organizers reserve the right to:

- Modify competition rules with notice

- Cancel competition if integrity compromised

- Disqualify participants for rule violations

- Adjust timeline or requirements as needed

 

### 3.10 Governing Law

These rules governed by Turkish law. Any disputes subject to Istanbul courts jurisdiction.

 

### 3.11 Additional Stage 2 Rules

 

#### 3.11.1 Attendance and Conduct

- Full attendance required for all scheduled activities

- Respectful conduct toward all participants, mentors, jury

- No harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate behavior

- Code of Conduct will be provided and must be followed

 

#### 3.11.2 Health and Safety

- Campus security and health services available 24/7

- Emergency procedures will be explained at start

- Participants responsible for personal belongings

- Insurance and liability waivers required

 

#### 3.11.3 Workspace and Resources

- Assigned workspace for each team

- High-speed internet access provided

- Electrical outlets and charging stations available

- Meals and refreshments provided throughout event

 

#### 3.11.4 Mentor Access

- Mentor consultation system with 20-minute time slots

- Advance booking required through reservation system

- Equal access for all teams

- Professional courtesy expected

 

#### 3.11.5 Project Submission

- Code freeze at specified time on March 8, 2026

- Final submission via designated platform

- Project report required in TÜBİTAK/TÜSEB format

- Presentation materials due before jury presentations

 

---

 

## 4. CONTACT AND SUPPORT

 

### 4.1 Technical Support

- Kaggle discussion forum and organization email for Stage 1 questions

- Technical support desk during Stage 2

- **Email:** info@acuhit.com

 

### 4.2 General Inquiries

- **Competition website:** acuhit.com

- **Email:** info@acuhit.com

 

### 4.3 Mentorship System

- Mentor introduction videos available before Stage 2

- Online orientation session for finalists

- 20-minute consultation slots during campus event

 

---

 

## 5. IMPORTANT DATES SUMMARY

 

| Event | Date |

|---|---|

| Dataset Published on Kaggle | February 16, 2026 |

| Team Formation Deadline | February 25, 2026 |

| Video Submission Deadline | March 1, 2026 |

| Finalist Announcement | March 2, 2026 |

| Finalist Orientation (Online) | March 3, 2026 |

| Stage 2 Campus Event | March 6-8, 2026 |

| Project Code Freeze | March 8, 2026 (13:45) |

| Final Presentations | March 8, 2026 (14:30–16:30) |

| Awards Ceremony | March 8, 2026 (16:30) |

 

---

 

## 6. COMPETITION PRINCIPLES

 

This competition values:

- **Innovation:** Creative approaches to healthcare challenges

- **Collaboration:** Multidisciplinary teamwork across borders

- **Learning:** Skill development and knowledge sharing

- **Impact:** Real-world healthcare improvement

- **Ethics:** Responsible AI and data usage

- **Integrity:** Fair play and honest effort

- **Openness:** Global participation and diverse perspectives

- **Participant Rights:** IP ownership with comprehensive sponsor license

 

---

 

## 7. STAGE 2 LOGISTICS FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS

 

### 7.1 Travel and Accommodation

- **Self-Funded Travel:** Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements to Istanbul, Turkey

- **Visa Requirements:** International participants must obtain necessary visas for Turkey

- **Accommodation Assistance:** Organization team can provide information about nearby hotels/hostels

- **Campus Access:** All meals and workspace provided during the 48-hour event

 

### 7.2 Language

- **Primary Language:** Event conducted primarily in Turkish and English

- **Presentations:** May be delivered in English or Turkish

- **Materials:** Key materials provided in both languages where possible

- **Mentors:** English-speaking mentors available

 

### 7.3 Time Zone Considerations

- **Stage 1 (Kaggle):** Accessible globally 24/7

- **Stage 2 Timing:** All times referenced are Turkey Time (TRT/UTC+3)

- **International Participants:** Should plan for March 6-8, 2026 in Istanbul

 

---

 

## 8. ACCEPTANCE OF RULES

 

By registering for this competition, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Official Competition Rules.

 

---

 

**Competition Sponsors:**

 

| Role | Organization |

|---|---|

| Primary Sponsor | ACIBADEM Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, Kerem Aydınlar Campus, Istanbul, Turkey |

| Co-Sponsor | ACIBADEM Healthcare Group, Istanbul, Turkey |

| Organizing Team | ACUHIT (ACIBADEM University Healthcare Innovation and Technology) Hackathon Committee |

 

---

 

*These rules are subject to updates. Participants will be notified of any material changes. Latest version always available on the competition website.*