20th, 21st, 22nd and 26th of February
ABOUT
OpenInnovation is Copenhagen’s flagship student innovation challenge, bringing over 120 students, researchers, and sustainable innovation enthusiasts together with innovation experts and key actors in the Danish ecosystems.
THE 2026 CHALLENGES
You will tackle one of the real-world health challenges presented by this year’s Challenge Partners.
When signing up, you prioritise which challenge you wish to work on.
Challenge 1
Beating Cancer LIDL by LIDL
Cancer, Healthy food, Nutrition, Behaviour, Prevention, Health Promotion, Corporate Social Responsibility, Planetary Health Diet, Official Dietary Guidelines
Denmark faces a rising health challenge as unhealthy diets and increasing obesity contribute to cancer, the country’s leading cause of death. Although the Official Dietary Guidelines offer clear direction, a significant gap remains between recommendations and the everyday choices young consumers make in grocery stores.
To address this, the goal is to inspire and empower young people to choose healthier, climate friendly foods. The challenge is to rethink the grocery shopping experience so that nutritious choices become the natural and attractive option.
Measuring movement, improving life
Challenge 2
Parkinson’s disease,
Motor complications, Motor diary, Classification of movement, Motor Fluctuations
Parkinson’s disease is rapidly increasing worldwide and causes complex, fluctuating motor symptoms that severely impact daily life. As the disease progresses, patients shift unpredictably between ON and OFF states and may develop involuntary movements, making their condition difficult to manage and understand. Today, these fluctuations are measured through patient reported motor diaries, which are burdensome, subjective, and unable to capture the true variability and severity of symptoms. This lack of accurate measurement makes it harder to evaluate new treatments and slows progress for people living with advanced Parkinson’s disease.
Challenge 3
Rethinking Digital Solutions in Healthcare
Digitalization, Healthcare, Emergency Services, Dignity in Design, Universal Design
Digitalization is rapidly transforming healthcare, but many patients - especially those arriving acutely in Emergency Departments - struggle to use the digital tools now required to access information, communicate with staff, or navigate their care. Older and more vulnerable citizens are disproportionately affected, and research shows that nearly half of acutely admitted ED patients have difficulty using smartphones or understanding digital information. As hospitals introduce more digital workflows, remote consultations, and bedside technologies, the risk grows that these patients will be excluded. This widening digital divide threatens equity, dignity, and the sustainability of future healthcare delivery, making it crucial to develop digital solutions that accommodate the full range of patients’ abilities and needs.
Challenge 4
Women's Health: Needs, Drivers and Barriers in Thyroid Care
Thyroid disease, Thyroid Treatment, Women's health, Self-monitoring, Health Data, Data Insights, Medical Device, MedTech, Health economics, Patient Agency
Thyroid disorders are common yet often overlooked chronic conditions that disproportionately affect women during their working years. Symptoms develop gradually, are easily misattributed, and frequently lead to delayed diagnosis and reduced quality of life.
Although treatment is lifelong, thyroid hormone levels fluctuate over time, while care relies on infrequent clinical measurements. This gap leaves patients with persistent symptoms, clinicians with limited real-world insight, and society facing avoidable health, economic, and gender-inequality consequences.
BECOME A CHALLENGE PARTNER
Design your own challenge, be inspired by innovative ideas, gain access to a unique recruitment platform and secure strategic branding for your organization.
PARTICIPATE AS A STUDENT
Join us for an action-packed journey towards innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable change! You can learn how to apply innovation tools and processes while networking with other students and industry partners.
PROGRAM
STRONG PARTNERSHIP
OpenInnovation is brought forward by a strong partnership between three leading Danish universities.
TESTIMONY FROM
OUR PARTNER
“We see a huge potential in students with different backgrounds and educational disciplines giving fresh perspectives that can lead to innovative solutions that ensure the continued development of the metro”.
Alexandra Hüneburg-Møller
Innovation Manager – The Copenhagen Metro