The i-to-i Innovation Hub 2026

The i-to-i Innovation Hub, from innovation to implementation, in collaboration with Stanford Healthcare, celebrates ground-breaking innovations that revolutionize how hospital leaders provide care worldwide.

Under the 2026 theme, "Smarter pathways: How AI is changing patient care", hospitals within the IHF membership are invited to submit innovations that have directly reshaped traditional hospital care models. The showcase of selected innovations will be part of the programme at the 49th IHF World Hospital Congress in Seoul in October 2026.

Applications are now open for 2026

Now in its 4th edition, the IHF’s i-to-i Innovation Hub shines an annual spotlight on projects that are transforming the delivery of patient care in hospitals across the IHF network. In 2026, the Hub’s theme is Smarter pathways: How AI is changing patient care.

The selected line-up will showcase innovations using artificial intelligence (AI) and other technological enhancements to address a clearly defined challenge in care delivery. These innovations will show improvements in clinical outcomes, patient safety, operational efficiency, or patient experience. Examples include projects that are successfully enabling earlier interventions, continuous or predictive monitoring, clinical decision-making through AI-enabled precision medicine tools, and new forms of virtual or hybrid care.

The expert Hub review committee will shortlist submissions which demonstrate how high-impact AI platforms or other technologies are both optimizing existing workflows and fundamentally reshaping how hospitals deliver care to patients. The innovations must be implemented in at least one IHF member hospital setting and must demonstrate measurable impact on clinical outcomes, safety, efficiency within care delivery, or patient experience.

Applications must be submitted through the IHF online submission platform by 24 April.

The selected finalists will be invited to showcase their innovations at the World Hospital Congress in Seoul, Republic of Korea, with a maximum of two innovations per country/territory permitted at the showcase. Additional shortlisted innovators will be recognized in a special digital publication.

Eligibility criteria 

  • Innovations must be currently in use in at least one hospital or healthcare setting, and have gone beyond the pilot phase. The innovation can be used outside the hospital (for example virtual care or telemedicine) but must be linked to an IHF member hospital.  
  • Innovations must focus on AI algorithms or other technologies that operate at the point of care or along the clinical pathway, changing how patients are assessed, monitored and treated, rather than platforms focused on administrative, documentation, or back-office support functions.
  • The solution must address a clearly defined challenge in care delivery, and show a demonstrable impact in clinical outcomes, patient safety, operational efficiency, or patient experience.
  • Partnerships between hospitals and companies or academic institutions are accepted, but the IHF member hospital should be the lead submitter. 
  • The innovations should bring something to the World Hospital Congress that the IHF membership may not have seen before, and innovators should be willing to share their stories and challenges of implementation and integration.  
  • Please note that the specific context in which care is being provided will be taken into account by the review committee, and we are aiming for a geographically diverse shortlist, representing a variety of resource settings. 

Are you ready to submit an application?

Connect with fellow hospital innovators and gain recognition for your transformational project to improve patient care delivery. Applications will be accepted until 24 April 2026.

Start your application

In-scope innovations

Innovations must use AI or other technologies to directly influence the delivery of patient care or clinical decision-making. Examples include:

  • AI-enabled wearables and connected devices used for continuous or remote patient monitoring
  • Predictive monitoring or early-warning systems (e.g. deterioration, readmission risk)
  • Virtual care and hospital-at-home platforms
  • AI-driven clinical decision-support tools used by clinicians at the point of care
  • Intelligent triage and prioritization tools that affect how and when care is delivered
  • AI-enabled patient communication tools when they directly support clinical care, treatment planning or patient self-management.

Out-of-scope innovations

The 2026 Innovation Hub will not include AI solutions primarily focused on administrative and back-office support functions, for example:

  • Ambient listening, speech-to-text, or clinical documentation tools
  • Patient notes generation or coding systems
  • Workforce optimization tools
  • Standalone data and analytics platforms without a direct influence on care delivery.

What do we mean by innovation? 

Innovation refers to the development and application of new ideas, methods, technologies, or processes aimed at improving the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of healthcare services, which show clear benefits when compared to what was done before.  

FAQ

Do you have more questions?

  • Who can participate?

    We invite hospital teams, departments, or individuals from within an IHF member hospital to submit innovations, which must be in use in an IHF member hospital (including member hospitals of IHF members). The innovation can be the result of partnerships with private companies or academic institutions but must be submitted by an IHF member.

    The innovations should have already been deployed and should have completed the pilot phase, with proven implementation results in improving patient outcomes, operational efficiency, or overall care delivery. 

    The innovation must already be in use in a healthcare setting. And please note that all applications must be accompanied by a letter of support from an IHF member (or a member hospital of an IHF member) implementing the innovation.

  • Why apply?

    The innovators who are selected for the Hub showcase will enjoy wide-ranging benefits and opportunities.

    • The opportunity to share your innovation with over 1500 delegates at the World Hospital Congress in Seoul, Republic of Korea, on 20–22 October 2026, with an exclusive pre-Congress innovation workshop on 19 October. 
    • Gain recognition for your hospital’s innovative efforts. 
    • Share your success stories with a broader healthcare audience. 
    • Network with hospital and healthcare leaders and other innovators from across the globe. 
  • What are the requirements of selected innovators?
    • Register at least one innovator to attend the World Hospital Congress (including pre-Congress activities on 19 October).   
    • Provide a short (2–3 minute) video presenting their innovation for use on the IHF website, Congress app, and social media.  
    • Give a five-minute Ignite Talk about their innovation at the Congress, in English, and without slides.  
    • Be present at the Hub space to showcase their innovation during breaks and networking sessions at Congress.  
    • Provide feedback on their experience and participating in any follow up communications. 
  • What is the difference between the Innovation Hub and the IHF Awards? Can I apply for both?

    The Innovation Hub spotlights cutting edge innovations that bring new approaches to dealing with challenges faced by IHF member hospitals. This year the innovations will be technologies  that disrupt the traditional way of working and revolutionise the delivery of patient care.

    The IHF Awards are presented in recognition of excellence that has been demonstrated in seven categories, with performance judged against specific criteria.

    It is possible that a solution that is submitted to the Innovation Hub could also meet the entry criteria for an IHF Award. If you do choose to submit the same solution to both the Innovation Hub and IHF Awards, you must note this in your entry to both programmes and provide the same contact information for both submissions.

  • Who can I contact for more information?

    You can send an email to Ilona Johnston with any questions about the Innovation Hub.