Deadline: February 1, 2026
The Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition 2026 is an international student-centered innovation challenge hosted by Johns Hopkins University. The competition invites student-led teams from around the world to develop practical and creative solutions that address real-world healthcare problems. Through a focus on human-centered design and medical innovation, the competition aims to encourage the next generation of innovators to improve healthcare delivery, technology, and access worldwide.
About the Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition 2026
Organized by the Johns Hopkins Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design (CBID), this competition provides a platform for students to showcase their innovative designs that can make a tangible difference in healthcare systems globally.
Participants will compete across specific healthcare-focused tracks for a chance to win cash prizes, gain mentorship, and receive global recognition for their innovations.
Competition Overview
The Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition 2026 celebrates human-centered design in solving healthcare challenges across diverse settings — from advanced hospital systems to low-resource global environments.
The competition is open to student-led teams with projects that demonstrate creativity, feasibility, and measurable healthcare impact.
Eligibility Criteria
To participate in the Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition 2026, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must be full-time students (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, or professional programs such as MBA, MD, etc.) enrolled in a recognized university anywhere in the world.
- Teams must include more than one student.
- Projects must be student-led; faculty-driven or company-led projects are not eligible.
- Teams are allowed to submit more than one unique project if desired.
- All entries must be the original work of the student team.
Competition Tracks
Participants will submit their innovations under one of the following three tracks:
- Solutions for Advanced Health Systems
Innovations that improve the delivery and efficiency of healthcare services within established health systems. - Global Health / Humanitarian Design
Solutions focused on addressing healthcare challenges in low-resource or underserved communities worldwide. - Healthcare Apps / Digital Health
Digital tools and technologies designed to improve health outcomes, enhance accessibility, and optimize patient engagement.
Prizes and Awards
The Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition 2026 offers significant financial rewards to outstanding teams in each track.
Winners receive:
| Prize Level | Award (USD) |
|---|---|
| 1st Place | $5,000 |
| 2nd Place | $3,000 |
| 3rd Place | $1,000 |
Each competition track will have its own set of winners, providing multiple opportunities for recognition and funding.
Important Dates
- Application Deadline: February 1, 2026
- Finalists Announced: March 16, 2026
- Final Event and Awards Ceremony: April 11–12, 2026
Applicants are encouraged to prepare and submit their entries early to avoid last-minute submission challenges.
Application Process
To apply for the Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition 2026, applicants are required to submit a two-page design brief detailing the following:
- Background and problem identification
- Description of the proposed solution
- Prototype or proof of concept (if available)
- Potential implementation strategy
All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges based on innovation, feasibility, and potential healthcare impact.
Successful teams will be invited to present their projects at the final competition event in April 2026.
Why You Should Apply
Participating in the Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition 2026 offers an exceptional opportunity to gain international visibility, network with healthcare and design experts, and compete for substantial cash prizes.
It also serves as a strong addition to your portfolio, providing a pathway to future research collaborations, funding opportunities, and innovation acceleration.
Key benefits include:
- Access to global recognition and mentorship
- Opportunity to showcase healthcare innovation to a worldwide audience
- Potential for funding and implementation support
- Networking with top healthcare design professionals
How to Apply
To participate in the Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition, interested teams should complete the official application process through Johns Hopkins CBID’s competition platform.
Applicants must ensure all materials are submitted before the February 1, 2026 deadline.
👉 Read more about the Programme
Contact us for proposal drafting, refining, and review.
