10TH EDITION · 2026
Forge of Talents
Innovation in Medicine Competition.
Applications open on 1 October 2026 First prize: PLN 5,000 · Application deadline: 2 November 2026 · Final: Thursday, 5 November 2026 · MediHUB C9, Łódź
About the competition
Present your innovative solutions to a panel of experts
Forge of Talents is an annual gathering of the MediHUB community, organised by the Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer at the Medical University of Lodz. At the heart of the event is the Innovation in Medicine Competition: each team has a few minutes to pitch its idea and answer questions from the jury.
10th edition of the event
3 min to pitch, followed by questions from the jury
2 Nov application deadline
5 Nov final at MediHUB C9
What to expect
competition
Pitch to the jury
A short pitch followed by a Q&A session. The jury assesses your idea, your team and the potential to put your solution into practice.
Pitch to the jury
A short pitch followed by a Q&A session. The jury assesses your idea, your team and the potential to put your solution into practice.
prizes
Cash prizes
A total of PLN 9,000 for the top three teams.
Cash prizes
A total of PLN 9,000 for the top three teams.
jury
Experts from three sectors
Representatives of medicine, academia and business, including investors.
Experts from three sectors
Representatives of medicine, academia and business, including investors.
networking
Networking after the pitches
Time to meet entrepreneurs, investors and other teams.
Networking after the pitches
Time to meet entrepreneurs, investors and other teams.
Prizes
Cash prizes for the top three teams
PLN 5,000 1st place
PLN 3,000 2nd place
PLN 1,000 3rd place
Who can take part
Who is the event for?
UMED students and doctoral students Anyone with an idea for a medical or health-related solution, at any stage of development — even before starting a company.
UMED staff Research teams looking to showcase the practical applications of their findings.
Start-ups from outside the University External teams developing innovations in medicine and related areas of health.
Incubators and accelerators Organisations looking to enter their teams in the competition or discover new projects.
Investors and the public Anyone interested in innovation in medicine — the event is open to all.
Jury
Who will assess the projects?
The jury will be announced soon. The panel will bring together representatives of medicine, business and academia.
Key dates
Dates to remember
Until 2 November 2026 Submit your application using the online form.
5 November 2026 Final at MediHUB C9: team pitches, jury deliberations and announcement of the winners.
Event programme The detailed schedule will be published ahead of the final.
Partners and patrons
Event partners and patrons
Applications open on 1 October 2026
Apply by 2 November 2026 using the form below.
Documents
At a glance
Final Thursday, 5 November 2026
Venue MediHUB C9, 3 Mazowiecka Street, Łódź
Application deadline 2 November 2026
Prizes PLN 5,000 / 3,000 / 1,000
Format Pitch + questions from the jury
First prize PLN 5,000
Organiser CIITT UMED
Questions about the competition?
Mateusz Domański+48 535 569 444
m.domanski@umed.pl
m.domanski@umed.pl
Apply
How to apply
Submit your application by 2 November 2026 using the application form. Please read the competition rules before submitting.
Forge of Talents 2026 application form