Join the Biomaterials Hackathon 2026 in the Brainport Region, uniting medical experts, scientists, engineers and students to solve crucial healthcare challenges in just one weekend.

Participants handpick challenges, exploring medical, technical and societal perspectives, with doctors available in the background for clinical insights.

You’re not required to form a team or submit your own problem. While you’re welcome to do so, anyone is welcome to contribute to an existing project or pitch a new challenge.

Academic and Professional Benefits

• Network with hospitals, medtech firms, and global innovators tackling genuine patient-driven challenges
• Integrate the hackathon as a course, thesis or interdisciplinary project
• Leverage materials and formats from 2025 for teaching and presentations
• Gain exposure in the international regenerative and biomaterials innovation community
• Tools for assessment, mentorship, and program integration​

Your Institution Gains

• Seamless integration into curriculum or research
• Collaboration with hospitals and industry partners
• Access to shared educational and evaluation materials
• First-hand guidance from clinicians and top researchers
• Showcase your solutions with societal relevance
• Connect to a motivated pan-European ecosystem​

Key Dates

• October–December 2025: Challenge submission and selection
• Before January 10: Confirm participation (€25 per participant)
• March 13–15, 2026: Hackathon weekend & final presentations​

How to Join

Ready to shape clinical innovation with biomaterials?

Register your participants or contribute cases before December 1, 2025 to align with your educational and research goals: https://smartbiomaterials.nl/hackathon/
Contact for more information: info@smartbiomaterials.nl​

Endorsements

• Keita Ito, TU/e https://vimeo.com/1049665666
• Jan de Boer, TU/e https://vimeo.com/1049665650
• Stephan Hulsbergen, Brabant Development Agency (BOM) https://vimeo.com/1049665707
• Jan Rietsema, SBMC https://vimeo.com/1049665615
• Lotte Pigmans, SBMC https://vimeo.com/1049665696

Some Examples from Last Year’s Challenges

• Revolutionizing Kidney Treatment with Biomaterials
  Develop innovative biomaterials-based solutions for kidney treatment, such as bioartificial kidney devices, biomaterials to promote tissue regeneration, and advanced materials for dialysis or artificial kidneys.
• Smart Biomaterials for Enhanced Cartilage Regeneration
  Create a biomaterial that changes stiffness to optimize cartilage regeneration—for patients with defects, osteoarthritis, or sports injuries.
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Treatment
  Innovative biomaterials to support neural regeneration, reduce inflammation, and promote recovery in TBI cases.
• Advanced Biomaterials for Uterine Tissue Engineering
  Support MSC therapies for endometrial reconstruction to restore reproductive function.
• Cancer Treatments and Tumor Microenvironment
  Develop biomaterials that mediate post-treatment environments, promoting tissue regeneration while preventing recurrence and metastasis.