2024 In Review
Growth
In 2024, Heart Hackathon has continued its growing journey of providing an open and supportive platform for student-driven total artificial heart (TAH) growth. Expanding its global footprint, the competition featured over 270 participants from 9 university teams, spanning across five continents.
Additionally, Heart Hackathon has played a tangible role in career development by directly facilitating job interviews and gaining international recognition through news coverage and awards.
As the initiative in medical technology continues to grow, it remains a vital force in shaping the future of TAH solutions by empowering the new generations of biomedical innovators.
Events
We hosted a total of eight events, including both in-person and online, with the goal of supporting our participants with invaluable knowledge from the med-tech industry. From arranging educational webinars to inviting guest speakers from the field, we are grateful for both our sponsors and supporters for making meaningful contributions in enlightening the next generation.
All events hosted in 2024 can be found under the Past Events section.
For more information regarding our associated sponsors, please visit the Partners section.
““I feel like I’ve learned a lot about technical aspects not covered in my university course. I’ve also been able to learn a lot of soft skills which will be vital for future employment.””
Grand Final
The exciting 2024 Grand Finale marked the conclusion of the second round of Heart Hackathon, held in Utsunomiya, Japan, in partnership with the 2024 ISMCS Conference.
Competition teams presented their Total Artificial Heart (TAH) designs and commercialization strategies. In a unique highlight of the event, teams also engaged with one another by sharing traditional foods from their respective countries, fostering a spirit of cultural exchange and collaboration.
A panel of technical experts evaluated the teams based on the quality, innovation, and feasibility of their work. Both prior assessments and Grand Finale presentations were carefully considered before the 2024 Prizes were awarded.
Watch the video below for a recap of the year!
““Amazing experience all around experiencing other cultures and the things they enjoy as well as experiencing a new country has been an experience of a life time””
Winners
1st Place
Team Bath Heart
(Bath, UK)
2nd Place
Monash Heart Hack Team
(Melbourne, Australia)
3rd Place
CalBaptist Cardiac Engineering Team (California, USA)
Most Advanced
UNSW Mending Broken Hearts
(Sydney, Australia)
Best Business
Mavis ArtificialHeart
(Iasi, Romania)
Impact
Throughout 2024, all student teams showed immense dedication to their creative med-tech innovations. Their experiences reflect not only a deep engagement with biomedical innovations but also a commitment to creating a real-world impact. Their hard work and achievements, including award-winning research presentations, are a testament to their talent and perseverance.
“This project was the best thing I had ever done. When choosing my honours project I chose this and am very grateful for that!”
““What started as an initiative resembling a playful venture matured into a formidable, confident team. We are now at the forefront, poised to contribute the next significant advancement in the field of artificial hearts. Our experience at the Heart Hackathon has been transformative, both professionally and personally, and it fills us with the belief that we can make a meaningful impact on the world.””
