Winners of the future of healthcare challenge 2024

In the recent finale of the global Future of healthcare Challenge, 7 teams presented their circular business models and discussed these with an expert jury. This was the end of a 10-week program in which global teams developed and tested new business ideas. The meeting ended with the selection of the most innovative, feasible and sustainable solutions as winners of the Future of Healthcare Challenge for the Johnson & Johnson sustainable solutions department. The winning team and runner-up teams were awarded and will receive prizes from J&J.

The winning team, Restiv, ?introduced a reusable and refillable auto-injector designed to save lives and reduce medical waste. The device is designed to notify users when it's time to replace the pen, simplifying the prescription process and reducing costs. The Happy Pen also promotes sustainability by reusing the pen's casing and cartridge, reducing unnecessary waste. The team also discussed their business model, which includes production, education, and distribution, targeting individuals with allergies, healthcare providers, and environmentally conscious consumers. Congratulations to the team of four students from Germany, Indonesia and Nigeria and their Indonesian coaches!

A runner up team, CareXplore, introduced a business model to address the issue of pharmaceutical waste by transforming unused medications into new, affordable products. The plan involves collecting unused medication from households, extracting active ingredients, and remanufacturing them into new medicines. This approach not only reduces waste but also contributes to healthier communities and thriving ecosystems. In this team, four students from Germany, Italy, Japan and S-Africa were coached by a German lecturer.

Another team proposed a machine that collects and recycles medical waste, including plastic bottles, and sells the recycled material to pharmaceutical companies at a lower price. One team presented AI-powered software that enables companies to forecasting and categorizing recycled materials, and streamlining procurement to minimize waste in production. Another team pitched a platform that connects recyclers and manufacturers, aiming to reduce waste disposal costs and improve segregation. A team introduced an app that uses AI to analyze meals and fill in any nutritional gaps. The final team presented a system using a needless Injection device.

Apart from their study credits, participants received a certificate of participation if all requirements of the program were met.

The Future of Healtchare challenge was part of the Challenge for Impact project, sponsored by the Erasmusplus program of the EU.

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