MUNI Health Innovation Days 2025 Inspired Students to Develop Innovative Healthcare Solutions

MUNI Health Innovation Days 2025 Inspired Students to Develop Innovative Healthcare Solutions

The MUNI Health Innovation Days 2025 student competition, held on February 6-7, brought together 25 students from various universities and faculties to form teams and develop innovative solutions focused on integrating advanced technologies for better coordination of healthcare in the Czech Republic. Students from Masaryk University, Brno University of Technology, Mendel University in Brno, and Charles University in Prague were divided into the categories of 'hustler,' 'hipster,' and 'hacker' based on their interests, facilitating team formation.

Over two days, with the support of 19 experts from fields including healthcare and technology, teams worked on projects aimed at improving the efficient sharing of information between hospitals and enhancing communication between doctors and patients. The best teams were recognized for their creativity and innovations, which have the potential to transform Czech healthcare.

CREATIC Centre of Excellence

This IDEATON was organized by the CREATIC Centre of Excellence at the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, in collaboration with HEPII at the Faculty of Economics and Administration, Masaryk University, DEX Innovation Centre, and Roche.

"This year's event was particularly valuable due to its focus on innovative healthcare technologies, especially those improving communication between patients and doctors, as well as among medical professionals," said Associate Professor MUDr. Regina Demlová, Ph.D., Director of the Central European Centre for Advanced Therapies CREATIC.

As a Centre of Excellence, CREATIC connects academia, research, and clinical practice at a strategically accessible location for the entire Central European region. We are part of the Horizon Europe Teaming for Excellence project, partnering with the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, the University of Leipzig, and the University of Copenhagen.

Our goal is to provide advanced therapeutic medicinal products for the treatment of rare and undiagnosed diseases in a sustainable way. Our mission is to create pathways for accessible cell and gene therapies for rare diseases, share expertise across Europe, and build an ecosystem through research, development, and production of ATMPs.

First Place – TinDr: A Social Network for Doctors

Team six, consisting of Samuel Klus, Radka Syrová, Kristýna Nápravníková, and Simona Bednáriková, impressed the jury with their innovative ideas and received the highest score. Their project focused on improving communication between doctors and specialists through a new platform called "TinDr."

Simona Bednáriková, who presented the project, explained that the team aims to connect general practitioners with specialists for faster and more efficient communication, streamlining the patient referral process. "Our goal is to eliminate barriers in finding specialists and enhance collaboration among doctors," she said.

Second Place – MedSync App

The MedSync project, developed by Team two (Marie Tormová, Jozef Diškanec, Michaela Sviteková, and Matěj Plevák), addresses the inefficiency in communication between general practitioners and specialists. Often, patients forget or fail to relay necessary information back to their GP. This innovative system would simplify the process by allowing doctors to electronically issue specialist referrals, making it easier for patients to select specialists and schedule appointments based on availability.

Third Place – JARKA-TLD Language Assistant

Team three (Daniel Diabelko, Martin Škývara, David Stojka, and Ľudmila Kvašňovská) secured third place by tackling the issue of administrative burden that distracts doctors from patient care. Their solution aimed to streamline and expedite administrative processes using new technologies. The team proposed implementing a system that enables doctors to record patient history and examination notes more quickly, significantly reducing time spent on paperwork and allowing more time for patient care.

Other Notable Ideas

Additional innovative solutions included a project promoting preventive check-ups through a patient reward system called "Prevenčka," aiming to enhance preventive care and reduce long-term healthcare costs. Another noteworthy project, "Medicellium," sought to address inefficiencies in data transfer and excessive administrative workload by developing a health documentation database stored on a chip. Several teams also proposed creating standardized templates for medical reports, which are currently lacking, while others focused on improving interoperability between healthcare facilities to eliminate manual data entry. Although these projects did not win, their potential to enhance healthcare is undeniable.

Jury Statements

"Thank you all. It was great to be here with you. I believe that you are all winners simply for being here and tackling complex problems in just two days—problems that sometimes take decades to solve," said Professor MUDr. Petr Štourač, Ph.D., MBA, LL.M., FESAIC, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at MUNI. His words captured not only the atmosphere of the event but also its significance for educators. The IDEATHON demonstrated that students can offer fresh perspectives and revolutionary solutions that experts might overlook.

Vendula Macháčková echoed this sentiment: "The future belongs to those who are unafraid to ask questions and seek new paths. If someone tells you something is impossible just because it has worked the same way for 30 years, don't let that discourage you. You are the ones who will change the world. Challenge outdated ways of thinking, even if it means hitting a few walls along the way. That’s how change happens."

Associate Professor MUDr. Regina Demlová, Ph.D., expressed admiration for the enthusiasm and energy of the participants: "You are incredible—your passion for these topics and your dedication are truly inspiring. It’s wonderful to see this in action." She also emphasized the diverse backgrounds of the participants, acknowledging that students had travelled from different faculties and cities, including Prague, to take part in the IDEATON. "The fact that you made the effort to be here for these two days is fantastic," she concluded.

Mgr. Jana Sedláková praised the commitment of the young participants: "I’m so glad I could be part of this. You are the future." She highlighted their courage, energy, and willingness to try new things—qualities she believes are essential for driving change in the world.

PharmDr. Martin Višňanský, MBA, Ph.D., paraphrased his favourite quote: "Through the stars to overcoming obstacles." He emphasized his belief that young people, with their ideas and enthusiasm, will be key to overcoming future challenges. "Thank you to everyone who made this event possible. You are the ones who will change the world," he added.

Awards

The winning teams earned a consultation worth 10,000 CZK with a leader from the renowned agency Direct People. Other prizes included a Human-Centered Design Workshop, meetings with Roche experts, and a subscription to WIRED Czech Republic & Slovakia. These awards not only validated the quality of their ideas but also provided valuable opportunities for further project development.

All winners were also offered an exclusive Human-Centred Design (HCD) Workshop, equipping them with tools for prototyping and testing their ideas. During the workshop, they will learn how to identify user needs, involve users in development, and transform their ideas into tangible prototypes that can improve healthcare. Additionally, all participants received material prizes.

Conclusion

The next MUNI Health Innovation Days IDEATON will undoubtedly continue this inspiring and dynamic collaboration, showcasing the strength and benefits of interdisciplinary teamwork at Masaryk University. The synergy between students from the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Economics and Administration, and others highlights the power of cross-disciplinary approaches. Moreover, the participation of students from universities beyond Brno, and even from other countries, demonstrates the increasing collaboration across different academic institutions.

This student competition not only generated brilliant ideas for improving Czech healthcare but also reinforced the value of teamwork across institutions and borders. The overwhelmingly positive response confirms that events like this are invaluable. A big thank you goes to all who contributed to making this event a success, as well as to the experts who generously shared their time and expertise to guide students toward viable, impactful solutions.