MED-EL USA Invites Young Innovators to Shape the Future of Hearing: 2026 IDEASforEARS Contest Now Open
November 10, 2025 – Durham, NC – MED-EL USA today announced the launch of the 2026 IDEASforEARS children’s invention contest, inviting young visionaries aged 6 to 12 to imagine the future of hearing technology. Hosted by MED-EL, a world leader in hearing implant innovation, the international competition challenges children to share their most creative ideas to improve the lives of people with hearing loss. Winners will have the opportunity to see their ideas celebrated on a global stage and earn a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Innsbruck, Austria, home to MED-EL’s pioneering research and development headquarters. The submission deadline for applicants from the United States is January 17, 2026 (midnight ET).
Launched globally on World Inventors Day, IDEASforEARS inspires curiosity, empathy, and bold thinking. Entrants can present their ideas in any format, from drawings and models to videos or written stories – the only limit is imagination. By participating, children learn about the impact of hearing loss and discover how creativity and compassion can drive real-world change.
For the third consecutive year, MED-EL is partnering with Microsoft as the official Technology Partner of IDEASforEARS. The collaboration enhances the contest experience through cutting-edge digital tools, including live translation, interactive learning, and accessibility features, making it easier than ever for young inventors around the world to share, connect, and create across borders.
Voices of Inspiration
“IDEASforEARS is where imagination meets impact,” says Geoffrey Ball, Chief Technical Officer at the MED-EL business unit Vibrant and head judge of the contest. “I have spent my life turning wild ideas into real technology, and I know that some of the best ideas come from kids who see the world differently. So, if you have got a spark of an idea – no matter how crazy it sounds – chase it. That is how innovation starts.”
Ball, who lost his hearing as a toddler, invented the VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE middle ear implant, restoring his own hearing and transforming the field. With more than 100 patents to his name, he knows firsthand how a single spark of an idea can lead to life-changing breakthroughs.
“IDEASforEARS gives children a voice in shaping the future of hearing technology. Every year, we are amazed by their creativity and empathy. Their fresh perspectives help us reimagine what is possible, and we are proud to champion their ideas,” said Jennifer Robinson, Corporate Director of Product Management Hearing Solutions at MED-EL.
A Global Platform for Young Problem-Solvers
Since its debut in 2017, IDEASforEARS has connected more than 1,700 children across 45 countries, uniting young thinkers who are passionate about helping others hear and be heard. The contest has grown into a powerful global platform for raising awareness of hearing health and empowering the next generation of innovators.
All details and entry guidelines are available on the IDEASforEARS website. To explore highlights and stories from past competitions, visit the IDEASforEARS Facebook page for updates and inspiration.
About MED-EL
MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable hearing solutions, is driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication and quality of life. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date, MED-EL has more than 3,000 employees from around 90 nations and 30 locations worldwide.
The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 139 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined electric acoustic stimulation hearing implant system, as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Rebecca Novak
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