The Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition 2026 invites student-led teams from around the world to pitch innovative healthcare solutions that improve clinical outcomes, enhance health systems, or expand access through digital tools. This global contest helps ambitious students gain exposure, connect with experts, and compete for a total cash award of up to $9,000 across multiple design tracks.
What the Competition Offers (Benefits)
💰 Cash Prizes by Track
The total prize pool of about $9,000 is distributed across three categories:
- 1st Prize: $5,000
- 2nd Prize: $3,000
- 3rd Prize: $1,000
Each track awards these totals independently, so multiple teams can win.
📣 Global Recognition & Credibility
Finalists present their work before an expert panel, gaining valuable feedback, global exposure, and professional visibility — a boost for portfolios, CVs, or grant pursuits.
🤝 Networking & Innovation Showcase
Participants interact with designers, healthcare professionals, and potential collaborators or partners through the competition’s virtual finale event.
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
This competition is open to full-time student teams that meet the following criteria:
✔ A team must consist of more than one full-time student enrolled in an accredited university.
✔ The healthcare project must be student-led, not a startup or faculty research project.
✔ The project must have started after January 1, 2024.
✔ Projects funded above $100,000 are ineligible to keep the competition focused on early-stage student innovation.
✔ Eligible students include those in undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, or professional degree (e.g., MBA, MD) programmes.
Teams may also submit multiple unique projects if each entry meets all criteria.
Tracks You Can Enter
Student design projects should fall into one of the following categories:
- Solutions for Advanced Health Systems – Improve clinical workflows, hospitals, medical devices, or system efficiency.
- Global Health / Humanitarian Design – Focus on accessible solutions for underserved populations.
- Healthcare Apps / Digital Health – Build technologies that support patient engagement, data collection, or health-related services.
Key Dates & Timeline
📅 Submission Deadline: February 1, 2026
📅 Finalists Notified: March 10, 2026
📅 Final Round (Virtual Event): April 12, 2026
What to Prepare (Design Brief Tips)
Your two-page design brief is critical — it must explain your concept clearly to engineers and designers who may not know your clinical context. Focus on four sections:
- Problem Description: Define the health problem and why it matters.
- Solution Concept: Describe your design and why it fits stakeholders’ needs.
- Reduction to Practice: Share evidence of testing, prototype photos, or results.
- Pathway to Implementation: Outline next steps for real-world impact.
Format requirements: use standard fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, etc.), at least 11-point size, and maximum two pages (not including a separate reference list).
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
- Visit the official Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition page.
- Review eligibility criteria and track descriptions.
- Draft your two-page design brief with clear sections described above.
- Submit your proposal online before Feb 1, 2026.
- Monitor email for finalist notifications and next steps.
Applications are free to enter and open to students from any country.
