From Bright Ideas to Real-World Impact: Young Inventors Meet in Innsbruck for Global IDEASforEARS 2026 Winners Event
June 3, 2026 – (Innsbruck, Austria): Innovation begins with a simple idea – and the courage to think differently. At IDEASforEARS 2026, young innovators from across the globe came together in Innsbruck, Austria, united by a powerful mission: to make life better for people with hearing loss. Hosted by MED-EL, the event transformed imagination into impact, as children explored, connected, and discovered just how far their ideas can go.
- Inspiring innovation: Young minds from around the world are reimagining solutions for hearing loss
- Shared experiences: Two dynamic days of creativity, collaboration, and global exchange in Innsbruck
- Driving inclusion: MED‑EL and Microsoft are working together to advance accessibility through AI-powered technology
Initiated by MED-EL, IDEASforEARS is an annual global invention contest that invites children to submit creative solutions to improve the lives of people with hearing loss. This year, more than 300 entries from 25 countries were submitted, reflecting the growing global reach and impact of the initiative. From these, ten young inventors were selected as winners and invited to Innsbruck to present their ideas and take part in this unique experience.
Celebrating the IDEASforEARS 2026 winners:
- Anaisha Sharma, 12 years, from India
- Asha Daisy Hodgson, 8 years, from Australia
- Christos Skourlis, 11 years, from Greece
- Cristian Campolattano, 11 years, from Italy
- Georgie Alexander Atanasov Hidalgo, 11 years, from Canada
- Joshua Obadin, 13 years, from Nigeria
- Juan Daniel Melo Buitrago, 7 years, from Colombia
- Olivia Belmonte Canal, 9 years, from Spain
- Roy Zheng, 9 years, from the USA
- Santino Mateo Sosa Morales, 12 years, from Argentina
Where Ideas Come to Life
For the young inventors, the IDEASforEARS winners event was far more than a prize – it was an experience that built confidence, sparked curiosity, and created lasting memories. Accompanied by their families, the children explored MED‑EL’s headquarters, met MED-EL co-founder and CEO Dr. Ingeborg Hochmair as well as engineers and hearing experts, and had the opportunity to share their ideas and see how they could take shape in the real world. Equally important were the connections formed along the way. Meeting peers from different countries, exchanging experiences, and learning about new cultures made the event truly special. One of the highlights was, once again, the children’s talent performances – ranging from BMX biking and soccer tricks to dance and ukulele – showcasing not only their creativity in innovation, but also their individuality and passions.
Voices of the Young Innovators
“I really enjoyed the winners’ ceremony and had so much fun meeting people from all over the world,” says Asha, winner from Australia. “Innsbruck is a really cool place, and I will definitely be telling my friends about the 20-hour journey and this amazing experience.” Parents also highlighted the emotional impact of the event: “It was an unforgettable experience – not just for the children, but for the parents as well,” says Dimitris Skourlis, father of Greek winner Christos. “Meeting the people behind MED-EL and seeing what goes into a cochlear implant – and how something so small can give you the ability to hear – is incredible.”
Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators
At its heart, IDEASforEARS gives children a voice in innovation. “The creativity and thoughtfulness behind these ideas are truly inspiring,” said Jennifer Robinson, Corporate Director of Product Management Hearing Solutions at MED-EL. “These young inventors challenge us to see the world differently and remind us how important it is to design solutions based on real-life needs.”
Dr. Patrick D’Haese, Corporate Director of Awareness and Public Affairs at MED-EL, added: “IDEASforEARS is about more than inventions – it is about empowering children to see themselves as innovators and problem-solvers. It shows them that even small ideas can have a big impact.”
Building Connections: MED-EL & Microsoft
MED‑EL’s ongoing collaboration with Microsoft once again helped make the IDEASforEARS event more inclusive and forward-looking. Microsoft supported participants with accessible tools that enhanced communication and creativity throughout the event in Innsbruck. At the event, young inventors were equipped with Microsoft Surface devices with built in accessibility features and AI-supported translation tools, helped enable seamless collaboration across languages and hearing abilities, allowing participants to connect and share their ideas more easily.
Technology supported an inclusive environment where every child could actively participate and express their ideas, highlighting how accessible innovation can help reduce barriers, amplify diverse voices, and empower the next generation of innovators worldwide.
Looking Ahead
IDEASforEARS continues to inspire a growing global community of young thinkers and creators. The next edition of the contest, celebrating its tenth year, will launch in November 2026, once again inviting children from around the world to share their ideas and help shape a more inclusive future.
For more information, please visit the IDEASforEARS website as well as the IDEASforEARS Facebook page.
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About IDEASforEARS
The yearly IDEASforEARS children's invention contest challenges children aged 6-12 years to develop a creative idea to improve the lives of people with hearing loss. Since its first edition in 2017, IDEASforEARS has seen over 2,000 entries spanning more than 45 countries, showcasing its global reach and popularity. The grand prize for the winners includes a trip to Innsbruck, Austria, where MED-EL is headquartered. The children have the unique opportunity to connect with fellow creative minds from around the world, fostering a global exchange of ideas and innovation.
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
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MED-EL Medical Electronics
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