ZHAW x Roche Hack 2025

ZHAW x Roche Hack 2025 – Help Shape the Future of Healthcare

Ready to make real healthcare innovation happen?
Then bring your skills and hack the future! Whether you're a creative thinker, tech whiz, or team player – at this interdisciplinary hackathon, you'll work with Roche Diagnostics to develop innovative solutions around the “Hospital at Home” concept.

What to expect

• ‍Hands-on experience tackling real-world digital healthcare challenges
• ‍Collaboration in interdisciplinary teams – Tech, Life Sciences, Business & more
• ‍Topics include smart patient support, data analytics, robotics, and monitoring
• ‍Direct feedback from experts
• ‍Networking with professionals and exciting insights into trends like personalized therapy, wearables, and digital biomarkers

Seize the opportunity to...

• Earn ECTS credits (depending on your program)
• Win prizes worth CHF 200–500 per team (sponsored by Roche)
• Gain insights into a future-proof industry
• Get support to further develop your concept

Dates:

• 1st of September 2025, 10am: Kick-off at Roche in Rotkreuz
• 11th of September 2025, 1pm: Pitch event at Roche in Rotkreuz
• everything in between is in your own pace!

Who should join?

Students from all disciplines – especially: Tech, Health, Life Sciences, Data, Business

‍

Challenges:

Challenge #1: Smart Care for Diabetes & Comorbidities

Chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, mental health disorders or kidney disease are on the rise globally – and they call for bold, intelligent care solutions, especially within home-based settings.

How can digital tools and data-driven systems support early detection, continuous support, and efficient remote care for people living with chronic diseases at home?

Your challenge: Develop innovative solutions for smart, connected care for chronically ill individuals in the home environment!

‍

Key questions you might tackle

• How can everyday health data – for example, from wearables, smart measuring devices or health apps – be meaningfully integrated into ongoing care?
• Which algorithms, AI models or early warning systems could help detect complications before they become critical?
• How can seamless communication between patients, family members, and healthcare professionals be enabled in a “Hospital at Home” setting?
• How can patient journeys (e.g. decisions about when to consult a doctor) be digitally mapped and managed?

‍

What you can bring or develop

• Intelligent models for analysing health data and disease progression
• Sustainable care models and digital business strategies
• User-centred processes for effective home-based care

‍

Challenge #2: Intelligent Assistance & Remote Monitoring for Age-Inclusive Home Care

Ageing societies are reshaping the future of healthcare – and digital technologies are opening up new possibilities for autonomy, safety, and wellbeing at home.

How can AI, robotics and connected systems empower older adults to live independently at home – while easing the burden on carers and families?

Your challenge: Design smart, accessible, and sustainable solutions for tech-enabled home care!

‍

Key questions you might tackle

• How can AI models analyse vital data and automatically respond to critical changes (e.g. escalations or alerts)?
• What role can social or care robots play in daily routines and emotional support?
• How can digital assistance tools – such as reminders, chatbots, or fall detection – be designed in a barrier-free and user-friendly way?
• Which health data or physiological markers are key to early risk assessment?
• How can home-based care processes and business models be digitally structured and scaled?

‍

What you can bring or develop

• AI-driven early warning systems and monitoring solutions
• Robotics and smart devices for daily living
• Accessible interfaces and user-centred technologies
• Concepts for digital care pathways and home-care innovations

‍

Challenge #3: Intelligent Assistance & Remote Monitoring for Age-Inclusive Home Care

The future of healthcare is personalised, preventive – and digital. But how do we bridge the gap between laboratory research and home-based care?

How can data from wearables, lab diagnostics and electronic health records be meaningfully combined to improve remote diagnosis, personalised monitoring and daily care – especially for people with chronic, neurological or oncological conditions?

Your challenge: Develop data-driven, scalable solutions that bring smart healthcare directly into people’s homes!

‍

Key questions you might tackle

• Which biomarkers (e.g. inflammation markers, electrolytes, cardiac indicators) are suitable for early detection of critical changes?
• How can rapid tests or biosensors (e.g. for blood, sweat or saliva) be developed and validated for home use?
• How can AI support risk prediction, medication monitoring or escalation management?
• How can biological insights from research be translated into user-friendly digital tools?
• Which partners – such as home care providers, pharmacies or insurers – are key to scaling the solution?
• How can digital health tools be made accessible and usable for diverse patient groups?

What you can bring or develop

• AI-powered analytics and early warning systems
• Prototypes for home diagnostics or wearable sensors
• Business plans for Smart Monitoring startups in chronic care
• Market entry analysis and strategies for digital diagnostics
• Usability concepts tailored to different user needs