Ten Years of Big Ideas: MED-EL Launches Special Anniversary Edition of IDEASforEARS

November 9, 2026 – (Innsbruck, Austria): MED-EL launched IDEASforEARS in 2017 with a simple vision: to give children a voice in shaping the future of hearing. Since then, thousands of young inventors around the world have shared imaginative ideas, thoughtful solutions, and bold innovations designed to help people with hearing loss. As the global contest enters its tenth year, MED-EL is inviting a new generation of children aged 6 to 12 to take part in the 2027 edition and become part of a growing community of young changemakers.

• Celebrating 10 years of inspiring young inventors around the world
• Special anniversary experiences for past and present IDEASforEARS participants
• A Golden Ticket Challenge with an extraordinary reward to be revealed

On World Inventors Day, IDEASforEARS encourages children to look at the world through a different lens and imagine ways to improve communication, accessibility, and everyday life for people with hearing loss. Participants can bring their ideas to life in any format, from drawings and models to videos, stories, or prototypes.

A Decade of Creativity

Since its launch in 2017, IDEASforEARS has received more than 2,000 entries from children in over 45 countries, transforming a simple invention challenge into a global movement. Along the way, young inventors have imagined countless ways to make life easier, more connected, and more inclusive for people with hearing loss, demonstrating that some of the most innovative ideas can come from the youngest minds.

As IDEASforEARS enters its milestone tenth year, MED-EL is planning a series of special anniversary experiences designed to celebrate the people who have shaped the contest over the last decade. Throughout 2027, past winners and present participants will have opportunities to be part of the celebration and reconnect with a global community united by curiosity, innovation, and a desire to make a difference.

"When we started IDEASforEARS, we hoped to inspire children to think creatively about hearing loss. Ten years later, we are celebrating far more than a contest," says Jennifer Robinson, Corporate Director of Product Management Hearing Solutions at MED-EL. "We are celebrating a global community of young inventors, supportive families, and inspiring ideas that have shown us new ways of looking at the world. This anniversary year is an opportunity to reconnect with participants from across the last decade, celebrate their journeys, and welcome a new generation of children to this special edition."

The anniversary year will also introduce a special Golden Ticket Challenge, giving previous winners the chance to unlock an extraordinary anniversary experience available only during this landmark edition of the contest. Selected participants will have the opportunity to join a special IDEASforEARS 2027 celebration event, bringing together past and present contestants and their families from around the world. More surprises are already in the works, with additional details to be revealed soon.

A Legacy of Imagination and Impact

IDEASforEARS is inspired by the life story of Geoffrey Ball, inventor, innovator, and Head Judge of the contest. After losing his hearing as a toddler, Geoffrey went on to invent the VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE middle ear implant, helping transform hearing treatment for people around the world. "IDEASforEARS has never been just about inventions," says Geoffrey Ball, Chief Technical Officer at the MED-EL business unit Vibrant. "It is about giving young people the confidence to think differently and believe that their ideas can make a real impact. Over the last ten years, we have been inspired by the creativity, empathy, and ingenuity of thousands of children from around the world. Their ideas remind us that innovation can come from anyone, regardless of age. As we celebrate this milestone year, I cannot wait to see what the next generation of inventors dreams up."

Making Hearing Loss Visible

Hearing loss is one of the world's most common yet often misunderstood health conditions. Through IDEASforEARS, children are encouraged to explore hearing health, develop empathy, and consider how technology and creativity can help build a more inclusive world. What begins as an invention challenge often becomes something much more: a learning experience that inspires curiosity, raises awareness, and encourages young people to think about how they can make a difference in the lives of others.

Join the Adventure

ED-EL encourages parents, teachers, speech therapists and mentors to support children in joining this special anniversary edition of IDEASforEARS. Winners will earn a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Innsbruck, Austria, where they will experience the world of hearing innovation firsthand at MED-EL headquarters. They will also take part in a unique international event that brings together children and families from around the world who share similar hearing journeys. Beyond celebrating creativity and innovation, the event offers opportunities to build friendships, share experiences, and create lasting memories within a global community connected by hearing. Full details, contest guidelines, and submission information are available at the IDEASforEARS website. The deadline for entries is January 17, 2027 (midnight CET). For updates on the tenth-anniversary celebrations and inspiring stories from past participants, visit the IDEASforEARS Facebook page.

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 3,300 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 142 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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