The Geneva Digital Health Hub (GDHUB) and the European Space Agency (ESA) recently hosted a hackathon focused on space and global health. Held in Geneva, Switzerland from May 31 to June 1, 2024, the event produced incredible results through teamwork and innovation.

Event Highlights

Winners:

  • 1st Prize Best Team Award & Public Choice Award: Open Skin AI
  • 2nd Prize Best Team Award: Hot Stuff
  • 1st Prize Best Idea Special Award: Vector Space
  • 2nd Prize Best Idea Special Award: Sentinels
  • Special Award for EO4Health User Forum 2025: Space Out

Innovative Projects

Participants addressed key issues in space and health through various challenges:

  1. MyoCheck: Improving cardiovascular health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).
  2. EO-ISLAIS: Using Earth Observation Data for smart health responses.
  3. Space Out: Enhancing astronaut sleep with AI.
  4. Health on Fire!: Tackling health impacts of forest fires.
  5. AidNet: Decision support for humanitarian health crises.
  6. Open Skin AI: AI for skin health diagnostics.
  7. Sentinels: Monitoring urban tree health.
  8. Vector Space: Disease surveillance platform.
  9. Hot Stuff: Heat resilience decision-support platform.

Partners:

  • United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
  • Open Geneva
  • Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
  • Space Generation Advisory Council
  • Space and Global Health Network

 

Future Innovations

The hackathon was a celebration of collaboration and creativity. Supported by UNOOSA and the Space Generation Advisory Council, it provided a platform for students, young professionals and experts to work on global issues.

The gdhub and ESA are excited to see where these innovative ideas will go next. This event highlights the power of collaborating to drive meaningful change.