This past weekend, the city of Göttingen became a hub for health innovation as it hosted the German edition of the Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon—a weekend where passion met purpose, and ideas took shape with real-world impact in mind.
Co-hosted by a stellar lineup of partners and brilliantly organized by the Life Science Factory, the event brought together students, researchers, innovators, and healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines. Their shared mission: to solve some of today’s most pressing global health challenges through smart, scalable innovation.
Innovation with Impact
Over an intense 48-hour sprint, participants formed interdisciplinary teams and tackled real-world problems ranging from hospital logistics and antibiotic resistance to hypertension. Guided by expert mentors from both academia and industry, the teams rapidly developed creative and actionable solutions.
“It was an incredible experience to take part in the Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon in Göttingen. Wonderfully organized by the Life Science Factory, with deeply engaged participants and mentors—it was a weekend full of inspiring exchange and innovation. It was especially an honor to be joined by Heiko von der Leyen, who generously shared his time, knowledge, and experience with us throughout the event.”— Emma Hallenberg, Director of CO-AX Accelerator
A Special Guest: Heiko von der Leyen
Adding an extra layer of inspiration, Heiko von der Leyen, Medical Director bei Orgenesis Inc. joined participants throughout the weekend. His presence and thoughtful insights energized teams and elevated the overall experience.
What Made This Hackathon Stand Out?
Real Health Challenges, Real Solutions
Participants focused on tangible, high-stakes problems that demand innovative thinking and practical execution.
Collaboration Under Pressure
In just two days, strangers became teammates, rapidly iterating and building concepts under time constraints.
Top-Tier Mentorship
Mentors from across the healthcare and life science ecosystem offered guidance, critique, and encouragement that pushed ideas forward.
Innovation in Action
The energy was electric as diverse minds came together, united by a common goal: advancing global health.
A Global Movement
This hackathon is part of a year-long, global initiative spanning three continents, six countries, and nine innovation hubs. The mission? To rally changemakers from across the globe in developing solutions for critical healthcare challenges.
“We are leading a major transformation in healthcare and there are a lot of challenges that need to be solved. Being part of this initiative that promotes innovation, where people around the world will work on our common global challenges, is important for us. I am looking forward to all the exciting results that we will get from the Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon.”— Boubou Hallberg, CEO, Sahlgrenska University Hospital
What’s Next?
June 13
The jury will announce the winning team from Göttingen—stay tuned!
October 2025 | Gothenburg, SwedenOne representative from each hackathon location will travel to NLSDays (Nordic Life Science Days), Europe’s premier life sciences gathering. There, finalists will pitch their solutions to investors, potential partners, and global stakeholders.
More than RecognitionWinners gain access to business coaching, exhibition opportunities, and share a monetary prize pool of up to EUR 15,000.
Thank You!
None of this would be possible without the support of our incredible partners: mediq Innovation Experts, Mölnlycke Health Care, Sartorius and Die Techniker.
Together, we're turning global challenges into local solutions—and this weekend in Göttingen was just the beginning.
Learn more about Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon! Visit the Event Page:
