Focus on health innovation: Hackathon brings a breath of fresh air to clinics!

Focus on health innovation: Hackathon brings a breath of fresh air to clinics!

The first took place on October 13, 2025 in the Audimax of the Brandenburg University of Technology Health Hackathon Brandenburg 2025 instead of. The event aimed to develop practical solutions to the challenges in everyday hospital life. Students and experts from the fields of medicine, IT, technology, science and business were invited to work together on innovative concepts.

The hackathon was opened by Mayor Steffen Scheller, who emphasized the importance of innovation and cooperation for the city of Brandenburg an der Havel. The event was supported by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the Brandenburg University Hospital (UKB), the Brandenburg Medical School (MHB) and the Brandenburg University of Technology (THB).

Variety of topics and challenges

The focus of the hackathon were six real tasks from the UKB's clinical operations:

• Telemedizinische Nachsorge: Digitale Kommunikation nach Entlassung
• Intuitive Wegführung: Orientierungssysteme für Patient:innen und Angehörige
• Sichere Logistik von Wertsachen: Smarte Nachverfolgbarkeit
• SmartFood: Nachhaltige Verpflegung im Klinikbetrieb
• Hybride Raumnutzung: Flexible Raumplanung
• Mitarbeitendenwohlbefinden: Maßnahmen für Teamklima und Entlastung

A special highlight was the school challenge, in which young talents presented their own ideas. A total of ten groups competed against each other and offered the jury, consisting of representatives from UKB, THB, MHB and regional innovation partners, innovative approaches to improving healthcare.

Winning ideas and closing ceremony

The best ideas were honored with prizes. The 1st place went to the “Kompass” team for a digital and analogue orientation system. The 2nd place was won by “Caffeinated Caregivers,” who developed an app prototype for sustainable food provision. The “WiR” team received the award 3rd place with their suggestions for improving communication and the team climate.

The event ended with a celebration in the THB's IQ student cellar, where music and conversations strengthened the sense of community among the participants. Gabriele Wolter, Managing Director of the UKB, emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, while Dr. Gerrit Fleige from MHB praised the innovative strength of the cooperation. Prof. Dr. Andreas Wilms, President of the THB, emphasized the relevance of the exchange between research and practice.

Digital transformation in healthcare

The relevance of such events is becoming increasingly important given the increasing digitalization of the healthcare system. Loud Statista Modern technologies such as digital therapeutics, telemedicine and the electronic patient record (ePA) are fundamentally changing healthcare. The global digital health market could grow to over €235 billion by 2029, with digital treatments and care accounting for more than half of sales.

The integration of digital health applications (DiGA) into everyday clinical practice shows how important innovation is for the future of medical care. Since 2021, DiGA can be prescribed by doctors listed in the DiGA directory. There are currently 59 DiGAs in the directory, which underlines the trend towards more efficient and patient-oriented solutions.

This development represents not only a challenge, but also an opportunity for the healthcare landscape, which can be made safer and more accessible through new technologies. In order to fully exploit the potential of digital health, innovative technologies and clear regulations are necessary. Health platforms such as TeleClinic and Doctolib help simplify the process of arranging specialist appointments and underline the overarching benefits of digital solutions.

For further information about the Health Hackathon Brandenburg, visit the official website at www.health-hackathon-brandenburg.de.