Young Minds, Big Ideas: MED‑EL Celebrates the Winners of the 2026 IDEASforEARS Contest
February 12, 2026 – Innsbruck, Austria: What if hearing technology could power itself while you move? What if devices were easier to find, kinder to the planet, and smarter about the world around us? And what if some of the most exciting ideas did not come from engineers – but from children? These questions – and many more – came to life in the 2026 IDEASforEARS Children’s Invention Contest. Today, MED-EL, a global leader in hearing implant solutions, proudly announces the winners of this year’s contest, celebrating the creativity and curiosity of children aged 6 to 12 from around the world.
- 302 children from 25 countries participated, with nine winners selected
- Grand prize includes trip to MED-EL’s headquarters in Innsbruck, Austria
- Since 2017, IDEASforEARS has received more than 2,000 ideas from young inventors across over 45 countries
IDEASforEARS invites children to look at hearing technology from their own perspective and consider how it could work better. The result is a collection of ideas that are thoughtful, imaginative, and often surprisingly practical – proof that innovation can start at any age.
A Playground for Ideas
This year’s contest brought together 302 young innovators from 25 countries, each sharing their own vision of how hearing technology could be more intuitive, more sustainable, and more fun to use. Some children focused on everyday challenges, others dreamed big about the future – but all of them shared one thing: the courage to ask “what if?”
Across the submissions, several clear themes emerged. Many children reimagined power and reliability, proposing smarter batteries, solar charging, wireless power solutions, and energy‑saving designs to ensure hearing technology is always ready when it is needed. Safety and protection were also prominent, with ideas focused on impact‑resistant accessories, waterproof processors, smart alerts, and solutions that help users protect their devices during sleep, sports, and everyday activities. Connectivity and control featured strongly, as children envisioned seamless links between processors, apps, watches, glasses, and other wearables — enabling streaming, translation, voice‑to‑text, device tracking, and personalized AI support. At the same time, many ideas emphasized personal expression and comfort, transforming hearing technology into colorful, customizable, and fashion‑inspired accessories that reflect each child’s identity.
Young Inventors, Real-World Impact: Meet the Winners of IDEASforEARS 2026
After careful review by an international jury, nine outstanding ideas were selected for their originality, feasibility, and relevance. The winners of the 2026 IDEASforEARS Contest are:
Anaisha Sharma, 11 years, from India
Asha Daisy Hodgson, 8 years, from Australia
Christos Skourlis, 11 years, from Greece
Cristian Campolattano, 10 years, from Italy
Georgie Alexander Atanasov Hidalgo, 11 years, from Canada
Juan Daniel Melo Buitrago, 6 years, from Colombia
Olivia Belmonte Canal, 9 years, from Spain
Roy Zheng, 8 years, from the USA
Santino Mateo Sosa Morales, 12 years, from Argentina
Geoffrey Ball, inventor of the VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE and Head Judge of IDEASforEARS, shared his thoughts on this year’s entries: “What I love about these ideas is how naturally human they are. Children do not overcomplicate things – they notice what is missing, what could be easier, what could be kinder. They see the world differently, and that is a gift. IDEASforEARS shows us that innovation does not start with technology – it starts with curiosity, empathy, and the freedom to imagine something better.”
An Experience to Spark the Next Idea
For the winners, the journey is just beginning. In June 2026, they will travel to Innsbruck, Austria, to visit MED-EL’s global headquarters. There, they will meet fellow young inventors from around the world, explore how hearing technology is developed, and see how ideas can grow into real-life solutions. More than a prize, the trip is an invitation – to keep asking questions, keep experimenting, and keep believing that their ideas matter.
MED-EL and Microsoft are joining forces for the third year as the official Technology Partner of IDEASforEARS, using cutting edge tools to help young inventors communicate, create, and connect across languages and borders.
Growing a Global Movement of Young Innovators
Since its launch in 2017, IDEASforEARS has become a global platform for young voices in hearing innovation. With more than 2,000 ideas submitted from over 45 countries so far, the initiative reflects MED-EL’s commitment to nurturing creativity, supporting education, and empowering the next generation to shape the future of hearing.
Follow the winners’ journey and explore their ideas on the IDEASforEARS Facebook page – and discover how big change can start with small hands and big imagination.
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 3,100 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 140 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
Press Contact
PR & Corporate Communications
MED-EL Medical Electronics
Fürstenweg 77a
6020 Innsbruck
Austria
T: +43 5 7788
E: [email protected]
