How a Hackathon Idea Is Improving Patient Care and Building a Stronger Innovation Ecosystem in Vilnius

EPAM Lithuania’s pilot device for Šv. Roko Hospital highlights Vilnius’ people-first tech culture, where innovation supports community needs and strengthens ties between the public sector and the tech ecosystem.

Lithuania’s tech and startup ecosystem continues to grow despite broader economic uncertainty. In the first half of 2025, Lithuanian startups attracted €167.7 million in investments—a 5-fold increase compared to the same period last year, when the total reached €32 million. The tech sector continues to play a significant role in the economy, with nearly 1,100 active companies employing over 19,000 people, and average salaries reaching €4,600.

But growth isn’t just measured in revenue or headcount. In Vilnius, tech companies are also contributing to social innovation—proving that this city is more than a startup hub. It’s becoming a global destination for investors and innovators who want to make a real-world impact, blending commercial growth with community-centered technology.

That spirit of collaboration runs deep in Vilnius. The city’s size works in its favor—it’s small enough for personal connections but large enough to host a thriving tech ecosystem. “You meet people across disciplines, and those conversations often turn into collaborations. That kind of ecosystem is hard to build, and Vilnius has done it well,” said Aliaksandr Babko, Director of Program Management at EPAM.

One example of this mindset: engineers at EPAM Lithuania recently turned a hackathon project into a working solution for Šv. Roko Hospital—a device that alerts staff when bedridden patients may need attention. It’s a small but powerful example of how Lithuania’s tech ecosystem can channel innovation toward real-world impact.

Where technology meets care

Aliaksandr Babko recalls how the initiative was born. “It all started during Engineering Hackathon, which EPAM Lithuania, in collaboration with GovTech Lab Lithuania, Microsoft in Baltics, and Tech Zity, held to address practical challenges submitted by city enthusiasts, individual innovators, participants, and public sector representatives. Among these contributions was a proposal submitted by Robertas Prokurotas, Director of Šv. Roko Hospital, whose idea became the foundation for the project. We kept coming back to the care of bedridden patients—people who rely heavily on nurses. We asked ourselves: how can technology help ease the pressure on medical staff without disrupting the flow of care?”

The answer was a small, custom-built device that attaches to hospital beds. Using fans and sensors, it analyzes the surrounding air to detect specific odors that might indicate a patient needs help. If triggered, the system sends an alert to hospital staff, directing them to the correct room. Unlike typical market-driven innovations, the device was developed as a pilot project in close coordination with the hospital’s leadership and medical staff, focusing on practical needs rather than commercial goals.

Developing the technology was far from straightforward. “We had to design something simple and non-intrusive that could work in a complex hospital environment. From the hardware and software to the cloud-based data systems and regulatory requirements—it all had to function seamlessly,” Babko said. Since the company had previously obtained ISO 13485 certification—a standard for quality management in medical devices—it was better equipped to navigate the regulatory and technical complexities of the project.

Robertas Prokurotas, Director of Šv. Roko Hospital and author of this idea, praised the collaboration, emphasizing its real-life impact:

"Small innovations like this—designed to align perfectly with our daily practices—have a significant impact,” he says. “This collaboration showcased how innovative ideas can emerge directly from practice and be successfully implemented by professionals like EPAM. The greatest value came from the partnership itself—piloting this system was a joint effort where our medical team and EPAM’s volunteer innovation team worked together to design the device with patient and staff convenience at its core.”

Innovation as a community effort

What distinguishes the project is its collaborative nature. Rather than pursuing a commercial product, the team focused on working directly with hospital staff to address a specific need—demonstrating a different model for how tech solutions can emerge through public-private cooperation.

“I believe such initiatives show what’s possible when tech companies actively contribute to their communities,” Babko said. “They show that Vilnius is more than a city full of startups and code—it’s a place where technology serves people.”

The execution gap—and how to bridge it

For all its promise, the Vilnius tech scene still faces challenges. “There are so many great ideas floating around,” Babko said, “but turning them into something tangible takes time, funding, and cooperation between the public and private sectors.” The city, he argues, needs to focus not just on innovation, but on execution.

Babko sees strong potential for Vilnius to rise to that challenge. “Vilnius is affordable, well-connected, and bursting with energy. With the right mix of policies, international partnerships, and support for talent, it can become a real magnet for global innovation,” he said.

He also stresses the importance of keeping innovation people-centered, even as the city embraces AI and emerging digital technologies. “Innovation isn’t just about machines. It’s about people—how we work together, solve problems, and make life better. That’s what makes Vilnius exciting. That’s what makes it different.”

EPAM is trying to contribute to that vision. Beyond its work with the hospital, the company runs free training programs and labs allowing students to solve real-world problems alongside EPAM professionals. “It’s about giving people practical skills and showing them that their work can make a real impact,” Babko said.

The company also partners closely with local universities, helping bridge the gap between theoretical education and industry demands. “We believe in talent,” he adds. “And we believe it grows best when education, business, and community work hand in hand.”