The winner of the Sorbonne University Innovation Day has been chosen

Students with an entrepreneurial spirit searched for innovative solutions for people suffering from COPD

Innovation Days encourage and promote health innovation amongst students. On 29 November, at Sorbonne University’s Faculty of Medicine, the challenge which required entreprenurial spirits and creative thinking was approached by nearly 40 students, mostly in technological and medical faculties.

During the challenge, the main task was to come up with innovations that will support people suffering from COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Initially, the students met two people suffering from the disease who are members of the association. The two support each other in their daily struggles against the disease, of which mobility is the most important, considering that they have to always keep their oxygen-supplying machines with them.

The machine has to be loaded several times a day, which makes it difficult to be away from home. In effect, there are also huge oxygen tanks in their homes which must be filled every day. Another challenge is going to the swimming pool, since, because of their illness, they have to pay attention to what is going on in the surrounding area.

Throughout the day, the students were very involved, asked many questions, wanted to understand the patients’ real-life challenges as much as possible and searched for solutions to their problems. Some of the students opted for a solution in the form of advanced robots, while others wanted to create intelligent jewellery or applications.

The winner of this challenge is a project called FOLLOW, a multifunctional robot providing help with the supply of oxygen allowing the user to rest.

The winning team will go to London to meet Innovation Days winners from all 18 locations who will participate in the European finals.

See you next year for another edition of Innovation Day at Sorbonne University!