Health Systems Innovation Lab
The Health Systems Innovation Lab is a global research and training lab that specializes in health system performance, health policy, and venture creation.
677 Huntington Ave,
Boston, MA 02115
Building 1, 11th floor
HSIL Hackathon 2026 – Building High-Value Health Systems: Leveraging AI
Where the world’s best minds reengineer the future of health systems. Join the 7th Edition to design, prototype, and pitch technology-powered solutions with real pathways to scale.
What is the HSIL Hackathon?
The Health Systems Innovation Lab (HISL) Hackathon is a transformative global event where innovators come together to design solutions that strengthen health systems. The Hackathon is an intensive, collaborative experience spanning 2 days where participants brainstorm, build, and pitch new ideas to tackle a specific challenge. The goal is to move from concept to a functional prototype or working product within the event’s timeframe.
Every year, HISL organizes the Hackathon in collaboration with partner countries and institutions around the world. In 2025, the HISL Hackathon brought together over 500 teams across 19 hubs globally, making it the largest event of its kind to date.
Following the Hackathon event, the winning teams are invited to participate in the Health Systems Innovation Lab Venture Incubation Program which spans multiple weeks and supports further development of each venture through structured educational sessions and mentorship.
At its core, the Hackathon empowers participants to bridge the gap between theory and practice by encouraging unconventional thinking and practical implementation. The solutions developed during these events have the potential to revolutionize healthcare—improving patient care, enhancing operational efficiency, and strengthening the adaptability of health systems worldwide.
Who should join?
This initiative is open to all who are inspired to advance health systems through innovation. Previous hackathons have engaged students, clinicians, engineers, designers, policy analysts, entrepreneurs, and others – forming interdisciplinary teams at Harvard and partner hubs worldwide.
Participants can join through their local hub as a team or individually.
Timeline – 2026 (7th Edition)
Dates reflect the 2026 Hackathon and Venture Building Program. Local hubs may run supplementary sessions.
- Application Period = December 8 – January 30
- HSIL Collaborative Hub Program = February 9 – March 6
- Speaker series open to all registered participants
- Mentorship opportunities
- Two-day Hackathon Event = April 10-11, 2026
- Winning teams from each hub (50 teams total) advance to Venture Building Program
- Venture Building Bootcamp 1 = April 20-May 1, 2026
- 50 teams participate -> 20 teams advance
- HSIL Judging + Bootcamp 2 = May 4-May 15, 2026
- 20 teams participate -> 10 finalists advance
- Global Judging Window = May 18-June12, 2026
- Finalist refinement + global panel
- Demo Day = June 19, 2026
- Pitches to investors & awards
Hackathon Event
The Hackathon is an intensive, collaborative experience spanning 2 days where participants brainstorm, build, and pitch new ideas to tackle a specific challenge.
Venture Building Program
Following the hackathon, HSIL runs a remote Venture Incubation Program to help selected teams develop their ideas into viable ventures.
The Venture Building Program operates remotely and is structured in three phases over eight weeks:
Collaborating Hubs
Partner institutions host local build sites across five continents. Once applications open, team members from each hub can find their dedicated workspace below.
Health Systems Innovation Lab at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Swiss Medical Group / Universidad Los Andes
University of Sydney / Westmead Health Precinct
United International University
Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV)
McMaster University – The Clinic, Health Innovation Hub
The Clinic is McMaster’s Health Innovation Hub, empowering students, clinicians, and researchers to advance health solutions through competency-based, need-driven innovation. At the core of our offerings are the Health Innovation Bootcamp and Residency Program, which focus on early entrepreneurial education and development. Collaborating with Hamilton’s ecosystem and regional hospital partners, these programs help innovators solve well-defined health problems with targeted solutions that drive meaningful health and societal impact.
University of Toronto
The Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH) at the University of Toronto is Canada’s largest public health school and a leader in research, education, and health system innovation. The School is advancing a renewed vision that strengthens interdisciplinary research, modernizes public health and health systems education, and deepens engagement with partners locally and globally. DLSPH is committed to providing evidence, expertise, and advocacy to improve population health while building strong collaborations with Indigenous communities and international stakeholders. Through its academic programs and research initiatives, DLSPH is shaping future public health leaders and contributing to meaningful, sustainable health system improvements.
Catholic University of Chile
Tsinghua University
Universidad del Rosario
American University of Cairo
Shaggar Institute of Technology / Ministry of Health
University of Ghana
Incubation Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Patna (IIT Patna)
Institut Teknologi Bandung
MIND, Politecnico di Milano, Università degli Studi Milano, SIIAM
MIND – Milano Innovation District is a development hub and an ecosystem for innovation in the life sciences, digital technologies, and sustainable urban development. It brings together universities, industries, research centers, and social-innovation actors to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The Italian hub involves the University of Milan, Polytechnic University of Milan, Human Technopole, Federated Innovation@MIND, and the Italian Society for AI in Medicine (SIIAM).
National Heart Institute / University of Cybergaya
American University of Beirut
Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL) School of Medicine
The School of Medicine at the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL) is a leading medical institution in Mexico. We are dedicated to training highly skilled healthcare professionals and advancing medical research through our University Hospital model, recognized as one of the highest quality programs in the country.
Our institution is distinguished by its commitment to fostering researchers from the early stages of their undergraduate and postgraduate education. Furthermore, the UANL School of Medicine actively collaborates with multiple research centers on cutting-edge projects to improve patient care technologies and solve key medical challenges. Our expertise encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and gynecology.
Nepal Technology Innovation center – Kathmandu University
Babcock University
Babcock University, through the Benjamin S. Carson (Sr.) School of Medicine, the School of Public & Allied Health, and the School of Computing and Engineering Sciences, under the leadership of Professor John Sotunsa, are leading the HSIL Hackathon as the Nigerian Hub to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in health systems. Building on the University’s experience in innovation, capacity building, and venture scale-up, this inaugural participation in the HSIL Hackathon reflects Babcock University’s broader vision to transform health systems through strategic global collaboration and locally grounded solutions.
National University of Science and Technology (NUST) School of Health Sciences
Carnegie Mellon University Africa / Industry Innovation Lab
Prince Mohammed Bin Salam College of Business & Entrepreneurship / Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Academy
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
University of Cape Town
University of Witwatersrand
Mahidol University
Koç University
Abu Dhabi Youth Business Council
King’s College London
The King’s College London will be proud to host the London Hub for the Annual Hackathon event, organised by the Harvard Health Systems Innovation Lab. Be part of a global event with hundreds of participants, we will be excited to develop groundbreaking solutions that can revolutionize healthcare using Artificial Intelligence.
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge will be proud to host the Cambridge Hub for the Annual Hackathon event, organised by the Harvard Health Systems Innovation Lab. Being a new innovation hub, we will be excited to develop groundbreaking solutions that can revolutionize healthcare using Artificial Intelligence, connecting academics, clinical staff and the world.
Hanoi Medical University
Matamba Film Labs for Women
“Matamba Labs is pioneering a new frontier in empowerment through creative technology and emerging technologies for development. We are dedicated to cultivating the next generation of innovators who bring authentic Zimbabwean and African perspectives to solving our continent’s most pressing challenges.
Our work spans critical clusters: creative tech (VR/AR/XR, animation, and new media), Artificial Intelligence (AI), health technology, and climate solutions. Since our inception, we have provided a safe, nurturing space where people can develop cutting-edge technical skills, explore innovation, and create impact-driven solutions—all free from exploitation.”
Previous Hackathons
Collaborating Institutions
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