OLVI-säätiö NeuroChallenge 2026
INNOVATION COMPETITION TO PROMOTE BRAIN HEALTH
The main theme for this year is “Brain Health of Elderly People with a Special Focus on Mental and Social Wellbeing”
The pre-registration is now open, please REGISTER HERE!
We have a kick off webinar on October 8th at 14.00–16.00
Final Event: November 27-29, 2026 – Microkatu, Kuopio
Prize Pool: €20,000 (sponsored by Olvi Foundation)
Main language: English
Read the highlights from last year here.
Are you interested in joining our mission for better brain health, to collaborate or participate the event.
Contact: Antti Kotimaa, antti.kotimaa@savonia.fi, p.0447856449
Matti Laitinen, matti.laitinen@savonia.fi, p0447856333
What on earth is this
OLVI-säätiö NeuroChallenge
It’s an innovation competition
with a mission of seeking solutions that promote the brain health of elderly people. We are specially focusing on the mental and social wellbeing.
We have a total prize money of 20 000€ for the best teams.
Do you have an idea, or a solution – or just your burning will and enthusiasm – that might help us to fulfill our mission?
When & Where?
Sign up as a team and start ideating your solutions. We will provide online support and mentoring.
The final event will be a 48h social weekend of work and fun on 27-29.11.2026
How it works?
Innovation is a team effort and NeuroChallenge is no exception. During the preliminary phase and the final event, the teams will define and develop their ideas into rock-solid solutions with a help of facilitated innovation process and hard-core mentors.
We encourage you to find your soulmates and form a dream-team early on. Open mind and a burning heart for change is a good addition. And if you already have your idea, or a “hatching” solution that will somehow help solving the Grand Challenge, that’s just superb!
Challenge timeline
We start with a kick off webinar on October 8th, introducing the theme, challenges, mentors and how the whole challenge works. After that you start working with your team with the idea, together with the help of mentors. These ideas will be evaluated and the best teams are selected to the final event.
The final weekend is on-site in Kuopio on November 27-29, with mentoring, networking, refining your ideas and solutions. The judges will evaluate your solutions (pitches) and best teams will be awarded from a total of 20 000€ prize pool.
The MAIN SPONSOR:
Organizer & Actors:
