The Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition 2026 is accepting applications from teams of students from all over the world who are enthused about developing innovative solutions to health-related challenges.
The annual contest celebrates the power of creativity, human-centered design, and its practical application to the global health system. It gives students from all disciplines the opportunity to propose imaginative, evidence-based, and technologically driven solutions that enhance the accessibility, quality, and effectiveness of healthcare services around the world.
To Nigerian students: This is an opportunity to be recognized internationally as well as network with international peers and also win cash prizes to develop new health technologies that could improve the lives of people.
Deadline: February 1, 2026
About the Competition
The event is hosted by Johns Hopkins University. This global competition challenges teams to consider the implications of the delivery of healthcare as well as apply principles of design to solve real-world challenges.
Participants must demonstrate:
- A thorough knowledge of the health requirement or issue.
- An insight into the affected populations.
- An efficient, well-designed solution with clearly the possibility of implementation.
The goal of the competition is to honor students who blend technical innovation as well as empathy and scalability to develop effective healthcare solutions.
Competition Tracks
The 2026 Healthcare Design Competition features three distinct tracks, which allow teams to concentrate on their areas of expertise or a passion:
- Solutions for Advanced Health Systems
- The focus is on improving the delivery of healthcare in hospitals, clinics, and health systems for the community.
- The projects could focus on efficiency of workflows, the design of equipment, or innovation in hospitals.
- Global Health / Humanitarian Design
- Solutions for low-resource situations or situations of crisis.
- Ideal for projects that increase the accessibility to healthcare and sanitation or the health of children and mothers in areas that are underserved.
- Healthcare Apps / Digital Health
- Recognizes innovative developments in the field of telemedicine, mobile health apps such as wearable technology, wearable devices, and the use of digital tools for monitoring.
Each track highlights the latest innovations that demonstrate both creativity and tangible impact on the delivery of healthcare.
Funding and Prizes
The Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition provides a prize fund total in all categories and rewards the most impressive designs:
| Prize Category | Award Amount (USD) | Number of Awards per Track |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Place | $5,000 | 1 team |
| 2nd Place | $3,000 | 1 team |
| 3rd Place | $1,000 | 1 team |
The awards are given on 3 main tracks that result in nine teams winning all-inclusive. Finalists also get international exposure by participating in the live event.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible applicants, they must satisfy the following criteria:
- Teams have to be led by students and comprise at least two members.
- Students who are eligible can be enrolled in a master’s, undergraduate doctoral, doctoral, or professional program of study (e.g., MBA, MD).
- Projects should have been completed by January 1st, 2024.
- Groups from any nation and academic discipline are welcome.
- Projects should focus on the health-related issue, which is aligned in a way with the tracks that competitors follow.
- Teams can submit different projects. However, each project must be unique.
Not Eligible:
- Faculty-led research projects or commercial startups.
- Projects receiving external funds that exceed $100,000.
Submission Requirements
Candidates are required to submit a two-page design brief, which is the basis of the evaluation.
The design brief should contain:
- Trouble Description A detailed explanation of the healthcare issue that is being addressed.
- Solution Concept(s)—Description of the design concept and the reasoning behind it.
- reduction to practice Proof-of-concept results or prototyping testing.
- Methods to Implementation A realistic strategy for real-world applications and scaling.
Formatting Guidelines
- A maximum of two pages with figures.
- Make sure to use fonts that are 11-point or bigger (Arial, Helvetica, and Georgia, as well as Palatino Linotype).
- Margins At least 0.5 inch across all four sides.
- Layout: Not more than the limit of six lines per inch, or 15 characters in an inch.
- Images, photographs, and illustrations are all encouraged and count towards the page limit.
- References can be made on a separate page.
How to Apply
- Create a 2-page design brief in accordance with the formatting guidelines.
- Go to the official Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition website.
- Apply online and upload your resume prior to the 1st of February, 2026.
- Keep a copy of the application for record purposes.
The Finalists’ announcement: 16 March 2026
Live Award Ceremony and Competition: April 11, 2026 (10 a.m. between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (EST)).
Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated by experts in a panel that will use four equally weighted criteria:
- The problem description The importance and clarity of the problem.
- Solutions Concept(s)—Creativity and the feasibility of the design.
- Reduced to practical prototyping, quality of evidence, or testing.
- Methods to Implementation—Scalability and sustainable potential.
The projects that show real-world practicality and a design that is user-centered will earn the highest marks.
Key Dates and Timeline
| Activity | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | 1 February 2026 |
| Finalists Announced | 16 March 2026 |
| Live Competition & Awards | 11 April 2026 |
| Prize Distribution | April 2026 |
Why It Matters for Nigeria and Africa
African universities, specifically in Nigeria, are fast becoming hubs of innovation in health research and technology. Being part of this international competition provides Nigerian student teams the chance to:
- Get global acceptance for their innovations in healthcare.
- Create partnerships with the world’s top universities.
- Present local strategies to address global health issues.
- A great platform to use for future grants, incubation, and mentoring.
Through this contest, African teams can demonstrate the potential of local innovation to solve healthcare issues that affect millions.
Summary Table
| Competition Name | Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition 2026 |
|---|---|
| Organizer | Johns Hopkins University |
| Funding / Prize | $1,000–$5,000 per track |
| Eligibility | Student-led teams (global) |
| Tracks | Advanced Health Systems, Global Health Design, Digital Health |
| Deadline | 1 February 2026 |
| Event Date | 11 April 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online submission only |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who can apply?
Any full-time student team enrolled in a recognized university, regardless of country or discipline.
2. Can Nigerian students participate?
Yes. Nigerian and African student innovators are fully eligible to apply.
3. What types of projects qualify?
Projects focused on healthcare design, digital health, humanitarian technology, or clinical improvement.
4. Can we submit more than one project?
Yes, teams can submit multiple unique designs.
5. What are the cash prizes?
$5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second, and $1,000 for third in each track.
6. What if our project has external funding?
Projects with external funding above $100,000 are ineligible.
7. Can postdoctoral fellows apply?
No, postdoctoral or faculty-led projects are not allowed.
8. How long should the submission be?
A maximum of two pages (excluding references).
9. When is the competition final event?
April 11, 2026, hosted live by Johns Hopkins University.
10. Is there a participation fee?
No. Participation is completely free.
Conclusion
The Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition 2026 provides a unique chance for young innovators to reinvent the future of global health. By combining creativity and science, the competition is a celebration of the power of design to bring lifesaving benefits to communities and improve their lives.
To Nigerian students and young innovators, this is a chance to showcase their innovative health solutions to a worldwide audience, receive cash prizes, and increase their influence on the global healthcare innovation ecosystem.