Each year, MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® recognizes the most innovative, creative, and feasible business concepts developed by its students. This year's competition set a new record, surpassing last year's high of 59 submissions: a total of 131 students submitted 75 projects, demonstrating remarkable creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and innovation potential.
The submitted projects were evaluated by an expert jury through a multi-stage assessment process and reflected the full diversity of MCI's academic disciplines – from Business & Society to Technology & Life Sciences. Key evaluation criteria included the degree of innovation, market potential, unique selling proposition, societal impact (economic, social, or environmental), and the feasibility of implementation.
"The Creativity Award once again demonstrated how deeply entrepreneurial thinking and a culture of innovation are embedded at MCI. Our students not only develop impressive ideas, but also consistently refine them with a clear focus on real-world challenges, societal impact, and economic viability," says Martin Pillei, Head of Research & Development at MCI.
The five most convincing projects received prize money. In addition, a special award was presented for the concept deemed most ready for implementation. All award winners also received a subscription to the Austrian daily newspaper “Die Presse”.
Winners of the MCI Creativity Award 2026:
1st Place: HealthiQ
HealthiQ is the first secure, pseudonymous, and GDPR-compliant digital space where people living with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or mental health challenges, as well as their relatives, can find trusted exchange, guidance, and support.
(Benedikt Hochmuth, Lilien Heit, Arnd Klocker | Bachelor Social, Health & Public Management)
2nd Place: Modrai – Digital Twin Content Platform
Modrai is a digital twin content platform that gives real models and athletes the legal and creative framework to license their image rights securely. Businesses can use it to generate legally compliant and authentic AI marketing content within minutes.
(Stephan Schneider, Nora Kigure | Master Management, Communication & IT)
3rd Place & Special Award „Concept for Best Implementation“: Intelligentes Einlegesohlen-System
The project develops a smart insole that supports patients in real time during gait rehabilitation following cruciate ligament injuries. The system aims to close a concrete gap in orthopedic aftercare.
(Samuel Maier | Master Industrial Engineering & Management)
4th Place: Vinoteqa
Vinoteqa is a wine cellar management tool for the restaurant industry. The platform automates administrative tasks for sommeliers and wine managers, resulting in less workload, more revenue, and noticeably more time for what matters most: guests.
(Tobias Vieider, Gabriele de Candido, Michele Calvanese | Bachelor Business & Management)
5th Place: Point-of-Care Cortisol Measurement System
Using AI-driven protein design, the team is developing a biosensor that enables simple and highly sensitive cortisol quantification at the point of care via smartphone-based bioluminescence detection.
(Hannes Hofmann, Moritz Obrist, Thomas Angerer, Saskia Eisel, Nele Christin Carolus | Master Biotechnology)
MCI would like to thank its sponsors and partners for supporting the MCI Creativity Award 2026: Startup.Tirol, Industriellenvereinigung Tirol, IKB Innsbrucker Kommunalbetriebe AG, Wirtschaftskammer Tirol Fachgruppe Werbung und Kommunikation, and Die Presse.
All finalists of the MCI Creativity Award 2026 together with jury members and guests ©MCI/Hanna Amplatz
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