Idea Competition for High School Students in Austria

Innovative ideas for the social and health care sectors receive awards

MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® once again made room for fresh ideas, courage, and a strong sense of optimism about the future: three teams were honored in the Land Tirol-funded ideas competition, “Innovations in Social & Healthcare Services – The Society of Tomorrow,” and each received prize money of 600 euros.

Prior to that, an expert jury selected ten ideas from submissions from across Austria, which were then presented in short pitches. The award ceremony took place at MCI on April 17, 2026.

Who was eligible to participate? Students in grades 11 through 13 from all over Austria – in short, the thinkers and doers of tomorrow. Their submissions showed just how vibrant social responsibility, health literacy, and sustainable action can be. In a multi-stage process, an expert jury reviewed the ideas and invited the most compelling concepts to the virtual stage for short presentations before selecting the three winning projects.

The competition is supported by Caritas of the Diocese of Innsbruck, the bachelor’s degree program in Social, Health & Public Management, and the Center for Social & Health Innovation (CSHI) at MCI, and is funded by the State of Tyrol. Together, they create a space where social issues are not only raised, but answered.

The response shows just how ready young people are to take responsibility and how concrete their ideas are in contributing to social cohesion, health, and sustainability. These projects bring the future out of theory and into practice.

The Winners:

• GreenCoins: Collect trash, earn points, strengthen community. An app rewards environmentally friendly behavior with free bus rides, discounts, and other perks – privacy-conscious, motivating, and easy to implement through existing collection stations.
• HealthTalk: An anonymous app and web platform for young people that combines AI-supported health checks, easy-to-understand educational content, and direct contact with experts via chat or video call –moderated, accessible, and safe.
• SafeSpace: Short daily challenges such as breathing exercises or gratitude journaling, self-help tools, and anonymous, moderated chats – fully anonymous, with no storage of personal data. A preventive everyday companion for greater well-being.

The Diversity of the Top 10 Ideas – An Alphabetical Overview

• BAFFHP – Build A Future For Homeless People: Turning deposit bottles into hot meals through bottle return machines and participating restaurants that provide surplus food and are reimbursed via deposit receipts. An idea that addresses both hunger and food waste.
• CareCompanion: A talking, easy-to-use device designed to combat loneliness in old age by offering conversation, reminders, and sensitive detection of social withdrawal; when needed, volunteer visitor services and social organizations can be connected.
• Charmeye – A Future Without Barriers: A discreet, modern pendant with a camera and AI that detects obstacles, gives spoken warnings, and can identify familiar people.
• Clear-Health – App plus Smartwatch: Reminders for medication and appointments, continuous monitoring, and a focus on prevention and early detection, especially for people affected by cancer and diabetes.
• More Health Promotion in Schools: From a short activity-based start to every class to more varied physical education and healthier snack options in schools. The goal is to strengthen concentration, performance, and healthy habits.
• Ovella: App-based support for PCOS – cycle and symptom tracking, community exchange, practical recommendations on nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle, as well as complementary nutrients as a hormone-free option for greater balance and well-being.
• Workshop: Artificial Intelligence – Learning Through Play: Four stations that make the opportunities and risks of AI tangible – from identifying AI-generated images and comparing tools to completing a practical task using the right tool and a Kahoot quiz.

The winning ideas have been documented in a brochure (in German) and serve as examples of the great potential the next generation has to actively shape our society.

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If you are interested in shaping topics within social, health, and public management, apply for our programs and be part of the future! We Are Managing the Public Interest!