Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition 2026: How your innovation can win $9,000

Applications are now open for the 2026 Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition, a global contest celebrating student-led innovations in healthcare. The competition is open to full-time undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and professional students worldwide who have designed health-focused solutions since January 2024.

With a total prize pool of $9,000, the competition encourages creative problem-solving in healthcare, spanning both traditional health systems and digital solutions. This initiative provides students a platform to showcase innovative ideas, prototype solutions, and impactful healthcare designs to a global audience.

Who Can Apply? Eligibility Requirements

The competition targets full-time students working in teams. Key eligibility criteria include:

• Projects must have been started after January 1, 2024
• Teams must consist of more than one full-time student
• Projects with significant funding (>$100,000) or run by companies/faculty are not eligible
• Students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, or professional degrees (MBA, MD, etc.) are eligible
• Postdoc research projects are ineligible

Applicants can submit multiple unique projects for consideration.

Competition Tracks

The competition encourages innovation across four specialized tracks:

1. Designs of Solutions for Advanced Health Systems: Enhancing hospital workflows, medical devices, or healthcare infrastructure
2. Global Health/Humanitarian Design: Solutions addressing healthcare challenges in low-resource or crisis environments
3. Healthcare Apps/Digital Health: Mobile, web, or digital solutions improving patient care, data management, or telemedicine

Each track offers first, second, and third-place prizes, with awards of $5,000, $3,000, and $1,000 respectively.

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Design Brief Guidelines

Applicants must submit a two-page design brief, tailored for medtech engineers and healthcare designers. The brief is evaluated based on four criteria:

1. Problem Description (25%): Define the healthcare problem and explain why a better solution is needed
2. Solution Concept (25%): Present your design rationale and stakeholder impact
3. Reduction to Practice (25%): Include prototype images, proof-of-concept results, or renderings
4. Pathway to Implementation (25%): Outline steps to scale the solution and achieve real-world impact

Format Requirements:

• Arial, Helvetica, Palatino Linotype, or Georgia fonts, size 11+
• Maximum two pages (figures included), references optional on a separate page
• Standard US Letter size (8.5” x 11”) with at least ½” margins
• Maximum type density of 15 characters per inch

Application Timeline

• Submission Deadline: February 1, 2026
• Finalists Notified: March 10, 2026
• Final Round (Virtual Event): April 12, 2026

Selected finalists will present their solutions in a virtual showcase, judged by healthcare and design experts.

Why This Competition Matters

The Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition offers students a platform to transform innovative ideas into impactful healthcare solutions. Beyond prize money, participants gain exposure, mentorship, and recognition in global healthcare innovation networks, making it an ideal opportunity for student innovators worldwide.

How to Apply

• Visit the official Johns Hopkins competition webpage
• Complete and submit the two-page design brief
• Ensure eligibility requirements are met
• Prepare to present or submit additional materials if shortlisted.

FAQ

What is the Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition?

It is a global contest for student-led teams to design innovative solutions in healthcare, with a total prize pool of $9,000.

Who is eligible to apply?

Full-time students worldwide pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, or professional degrees in teams of two or more.

What types of projects are accepted?

Projects in advanced health systems, global health/humanitarian design, and digital healthcare apps are eligible, started after January 1, 2024.

Are postdoctoral or faculty projects eligible?

No. Only full-time student-led projects qualify.

What is the prize structure?

Each track offers $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place.

What is the application deadline?

February 1, 2026.

What is a design brief?

A two-page document describing your problem, solution, prototype results, and implementation pathway for evaluation by healthcare designers.

Can students submit multiple projects?

Yes, each project must be unique and meet all eligibility criteria.

When will finalists be notified?

March 10, 2026, with the final virtual event scheduled for April 12, 2026.

Where can I find more information or submit an application?

Visit the official Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition 2026 webpage for details and submission instructions.