Young Inventors Wanted: MED-EL’s IDEASforEARS 2026 Contest Opens the Door to the Future of Hearing
November 9, 2025 – (Innsbruck, Austria): Every great idea starts with curiosity – and sometimes, even the youngest minds can imagine new ways to make life easier for people with hearing loss. MED-EL, a world leader in hearing implant innovation, is calling on young visionaries aged 6 to 12 to take center stage in the 2026 IDEASforEARS contest. This global challenge enables children to dream up creative solutions that could change the lives of people with hearing loss – proving that age is no barrier to making a difference.
Launched on World Inventors Day, IDEASforEARS is more than a competition – it is a platform for curiosity, empathy, and bold thinking. Children everywhere are invited to submit their ideas in any form they choose, from sketches and models to videos and stories. The only limit is their imagination. By participating, kids not only learn about the impact of hearing loss but also discover the power of their own creativity to spark real-world change.
A Movement That Crosses Borders
Behind every idea lies a story – a child’s desire to help others hear the world around them. Since its debut in 2017, IDEASforEARS has united over 1,700 children from more than 45 countries, each bringing their unique perspective to the challenge. The contest has become a global platform for raising awareness about hearing health and inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers.
Voices of Inspiration
IDEASforEARS finds its roots in the vision of Geoffrey Ball – inventor, innovator, and Head Judge of the contest. Geoffrey lost his hearing as a toddler and went on to invent the VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE middle ear implant, restoring his own hearing and revolutionizing the field. With over 100 patents to his name, Geoffrey knows firsthand what it means to turn a challenge into a breakthrough. “IDEASforEARS is where imagination meets impact,” says Geoffrey Ball, Chief Technical Officer at the MED-EL business unit Vibrant. “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. This contest is about giving them the stage, letting them speak up, and showing them that their creativity can change lives. So, if you have got a spark of an idea – no matter how crazy it sounds – chase it. That is how innovation starts.”
Jennifer Robinson, Corporate Director of Product Management Hearing Solutions at MED-EL, adds: “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.”
Technology Meets Creativity
For the third year in a row, MED-EL is proud to collaborate with Microsoft as the official Technology Partner of IDEASforEARS. This partnership brings cutting-edge tools to the contest, helping young inventors communicate, create, and connect across languages and borders. With live translation, interactive content, and accessibility features powered by Microsoft technology, the contest experience becomes even more inclusive and inspiring for children with hearing loss.
Making the Invisible Visible
Hearing loss is an invisible barrier – affecting millions of people without being immediately seen or understood. IDEASforEARS helps shine a light on this hidden challenge by encouraging children to explore and empathize with the experiences of those with hearing loss. Across the globe, schools are integrating the contest into their classrooms, using it as a creative way to raise awareness and start conversations about hearing health. Through their ideas, children help make hearing loss visible – and inspire action.
A Life-Changing Opportunity
MED-EL encourages parents, teachers, and mentors to support children in joining this extraordinary adventure. Winners will not only see their ideas celebrated but will also earn a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Innsbruck, Austria – the home of MED-EL’s pioneering research and development. All details and entry guidelines are available on the IDEASforEARS website. The deadline for submissions is January 17, 2026 (midnight CET).
For a glimpse into the creativity and impact of past contests, visit the IDEASforEARS Facebook page for stories, updates, and inspiration.
Notes to Editors
About Hearing Loss
Over 5% of the world’s population – or 466 million people – has disabling hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children). It is estimated that by 2050 over 900 million people – or one in every ten people – will have disabling hearing loss. The World Health Organization recommends a range of interventions to improve communication once hearing loss has occurred, including hearing implants.
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, auditory brainstem implants as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com
CEO
Doz. DI Dr DDr med. h.c. Ingeborg Hochmair
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