Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon
Co-action addressing global health challenges
Published on the 11th of November 2024. 4 min read.
Table of contents
What is the Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon?
The Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon is more than just a hackathon!
It's a daring attempt to tackle global healthcare issues, building on the success of HackHERHealth Hackathon.
We cannot rely solely on conventional remedies as healthcare systems around the world are under stress due to aging populations, chronic illnesses, and unequal access.
We require new technologies, new collaborations, and new ideas.
The Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon aims to unite innovators, researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers worldwide to think beyond boundaries, innovate fearlessly, and have a genuine, long-lasting impact through the power of co-action.
The event relies on the support of important partners in three continents, six nations, and nine locations which will make us stronger and more intelligent, prepared to take on the greatest health crises in the world.
Who are the stakeholders?
The hackathon is organized by Sahlgrenska Science Park, together with these amazing global and local partners:
Global partners
Local partners
Hackathon timeline and locations
The Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon 2024-2025 was launched in Gothenburg on 24 October 2024, will take place in 6 different countries for a total of 9 local hackathons, and will conclude with the announcement of the winners at the Grand Finale planned for 13 October 2025.
Registrations will open globally on 24 October and close on 24 December 2024.
Local hackathons
Each hackathon will be held on different days and times:
Sweden - 1 & 2 February 2025
Spain - 22 & 23 February 2025
United States - 5 & 6 April 2025
United Kingdom - 10 & 11 May 2025
Germany - 24 & 25 May 2025
Singapore - 5 & 6 July 2025
Throughout the weekend hackathon, participants will be tasked with submitting 4 deliverables that explain their idea and that will demonstrate their Proof of Concept.
In each city where the hackathons take place, only one finalist team will be selected, resulting in a total of 9 finalists across all hackathons.
Grand final
The 9 finalist teams will be invited to represent at the Grand Final to be held in Gothenburg on 13 October 2025 at 4:00 PM - CET.
This in-person event will spotlight the 9 winners of the local hackathons.
These elite teams will have the unique opportunity to present their ideas once again, this time to a larger voting audience and a panel of judges.
During this session, the Jury Members will engage with the teams through questions, providing a dynamic and interactive evaluation process.
The responses and presentations in this round are crucial, as they contribute additional points, ultimately determining the teams that will secure the coveted top three positions.
After all points are assigned, the jury will establish the rankings for the top 3 teams, which will qualify for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards, respectively!
What challenges are we trying to solve?
The Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon 2024-2025 Hackathon encourages participants to assemble teams and tackle distinct challenges related to addressing the global health challenges.
High-level resources, such as papers, documents, and software, will be provided to participants as they address these challenges.
Additionally, technical and topic-related mentors will guide the teams in their ideation process for defining the solutions.
A total of 5 challenges have been identified for the event.
Challenge 1 - Health equality: bridging gender and ethnicity gaps in access to care
How can we think outside the box and potentially leverage personalized medicine and data to close gender and ethnicity health gaps, ensuring equitable access to high-quality care for all communities?
Challenge 2 - Co-action to F*@# Cancer
How can we act collaboratively and potentially leverage personalized medicine and data to predict, monitor, and personalize cancer treatment, reducing its global impact?
Challenge 3 - Forever vital: innovating solutions for healthy aging
How can we find new ways of staying healthy while ageing and potentially leverage personalized medicine and AI to enhance chronic disease management and support healthy aging in a rapidly growing elderly population?
Challenge 4 - Infection prevention and control: tackling AMR and healthcare-associated infections
How can we combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and reduce healthcare-associated infections, two critical global health threats responsible for widespread illness and death? Could we harness personalized medicine and AI?
Challenge 5 - Smart, safe, and sustainable healthcare
How can we minimize hospitals’ climate footprint, hazardous waste, and emissions while improving patient (and staff) health and safety?
How to participate
1) Register for the hackathon
Visit the hackathon website of the local hackathon you’d like to participate in and click on the register button!
You can either scan the QR code or click on “Register now"!”
2) Join the challenges live sessions
It is strongly recommended that all participants join the planned challenge explanatory live sessions:
Challenge 2 - F*@# Cancer
Friday 15 November at 8 AM - CET (Sweden time)
Challenge 3 - Healthy aging & chronic disease management
Thursday 21 November 5 PM - CET (Sweden time)
Challenge 4 - Infection prevention & control
Friday 29 November at 8 AM - CET (Sweden time)
Challenge 5 - Smart, safe & sustainable healthcare
Thursday 5 December at 5 PM - CET (Sweden time)
Challenge 1 - Health inequality & access to care
Thursday 12 December at 5 PM - CET (Sweden time)
details on how to join are revealed upon registration
3) Create or join a team and submit your initial idea
Until the ❌ Team formation close and 💡idea description submission phase closes, you can connect with other participants on each local event Eventornado page.
During the hackathon, you'll have the chance to create or join a team and work together to refine the concept you're working on.
4) Contribute to solving the global health challenges in the Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon!
Together with your team and the hackathon mentors, develop your hackathon idea during the hackathon!
Need more info?
For any questions about the event you can drop us an email to hello@pristineagency.eu