Johns Hopkins University Design Competition 2026 — Innovation Challenge in Bioengineering & Global Health

The CBID Design Competition 2026 is an exciting international innovation challenge that invites multidisciplinary student teams to develop practical, human-centered solutions for real-world health challenges. Hosted by the Center for Bioengineering Innovation & Design at Johns Hopkins University, this annual competition brings together students from engineering, medicine, business, and design fields to collaborate on impactful projects that improve health outcomes globally.

Whether you’re passionate about creating new medical devices, improving access to care, or designing tools for underserved populations, the CBID Design Competition provides a platform to transform ideas into working prototypes and measurable impact.

What Is the CBID Design Competition?

The Design Competition is a student-centered innovation event that challenges interdisciplinary teams to apply engineering design principles, creative problem solving, and user-centered research to address pressing biomedical and global health problems.

Participants work on projects that are practical, scalable, and grounded in real human needs — from low-resource settings to complex clinical environments.

Who Can Participate?

The competition is open to student teams from around the world, typically including:

• Undergraduate and graduate students
• Participants from engineering, health sciences, business, and design
• Multidisciplinary teams (encouraged to collaborate across fields)
• Individuals from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds

Teams generally consist of 3–6 members, bringing together complementary skills such as design thinking, technical development, user research, and project management.

Competition Themes & Goals

The CBID Design Competition focuses on healthcare and bioengineering challenges that have societal relevance, including:

• Affordable and accessible medical technologies
• Diagnostics for global health settings
• Solutions for chronic disease management
• Assistive devices for aging and disability
• Innovations that enhance quality of care in low-resource environments

The competition encourages solutions that are human-centered, feasible, and ethically developed — making a measurable difference in people’s lives.

Structure & Timeline

While exact dates may vary each year, the general flow of the competition includes:

1. Open Call & Team Formation
   — Students form multidisciplinary teams and register their intent to participate.
2. Concept Development & Mentorship
   — Teams refine ideas, often with access to mentors from academia and industry.
3. Design & Prototyping Phase
   — Participants create proof-of-concept prototypes and design documentation.
4. Submission & Evaluation
   — Teams submit their final projects for review by expert judges.
5. Final Showcase & Awards
   — Top teams present their work at a design showcase or virtual event, with awards for winners.

Application periods and deadlines are typically announced well before the competition cycle begins, so early preparation is key.

Why This Competition Matters

The CBID Design Competition offers student innovators valuable opportunities to:

• Apply engineering and design thinking to real global health problems
• Develop prototypes and implementation strategies
• Receive feedback and mentorship from world-class experts
• Build professional networks across disciplines and sectors
• Gain recognition and awards that can jumpstart careers in innovation and design
• Communicate impact-focused solutions to global audiences

Many past participants have used the competition as a springboard for further research, startups, academic collaboration, or graduate study.

Awards & Recognition

Winning teams typically receive:

• Monetary prizes or seed funding for project continuation
• Public recognition through CBID and partner communications
• Mentorship and exposure to innovation ecosystems
• Opportunities to publish or present work at conferences

Even non-winning teams benefit from exposure, feedback, and professional connections that support future innovation journeys.

Tips to Prepare a Strong Entry

✔ Build a Diverse Team

Include students with different skill sets — engineering, business planning, clinical insight, and design thinking.

✔ Focus on Human Needs

Start with strong user insights and evidence that your solution meets a real need.

✔ Prototype Early

Iterate quickly on designs to test key assumptions and improve feasibility.

✔ Communicate Clearly

Your documentation and presentation should clearly explain problem, solution, impact, and sustainability.

✔ Seek Mentorship

Use available mentors and faculty support to refine your approach and credibility.

The CBID Design Competition 2026 is an excellent opportunity for student innovators who want to make a meaningful impact in global health and biomedical design. By combining creative problem solving, multidisciplinary collaboration, and practical prototyping, this competition empowers students to tackle some of today’s most challenging health issues with actionable solutions.