Unesc Challenge gathers 40 Health students and awards innovative solutions for sector challenges

Innovation took center stage in the training of future health professionals this Saturday (10/10), during another stage of the Unesc Challenge 2026. Held on the campus in Criciúma, the competition brought together 40 students who put their creativity, knowledge, and teamwork into practice to develop solutions aimed at societal challenges. Among the proposals presented, projects related to communication between foreign patients and health professionals, caregiver well-being, and the promotion of healthy habits stood out.

With 40 participants present, the health stage recorded the largest audience among the editions held this year. The results also drew attention due to the profile of the students: approximately 80% were in their first or second phases of their degree, demonstrating that interest in innovation begins early in their university life.

For the coordinator of the Unesc Challenge, Christian Engelmann, the participation and quality of the projects exceeded expectations. According to him, the proposals demonstrated maturity and development capability. "The ideas came in at a very high level, very well explained, thought out, and detailed. Today, indeed, the 'Unesc Challenge was surprising,'" he evaluated.

Technology to overcome barriers in healthcare wins first place

The Tubarões team won first place with a proposal aimed at overcoming one of the difficulties faced by foreigners in accessing health services: the language barrier.

The project, presented by second-year Speech Therapy student Vitor Serafim, arose from the experience of one of the team members who, being a foreigner, faced difficulties communicating during hospital visits and in Urgent Care Units (UPAs).

From this reality, the students developed a proposal for a simultaneous translation software capable of facilitating communication between patients and health professionals. The technology was designed to work through different devices, allowing information about symptoms, diagnoses, and guidance to be understood by both parties.

"Our colleague shared this problem he was experiencing firsthand, we discussed it together and agreed to develop a project about it," Vitor explained.

The solution envisions different formats of use, including compact devices, screens for viewing translations, and accessories that could be used by doctors, nurses, and other professionals during consultations.

During the presentation, the team also highlighted situations where communication difficulties could compromise the understanding of symptoms and the quality of care provided to the patient.

For Vitor, the achievement was a surprise and represented recognition of the collective effort. "I honestly didn't expect it. We dedicated ourselves to the maximum and delivered everything we could. I was surprised, but with a great feeling of gratitude and satisfaction for being the champion," he celebrated.

Care for caregivers secures second place

Second place went to the Dragões team, which presented Vita, an app focused on organizing the caregiving routine and promoting the mental health of caregivers.

The proposal stems from a concern often placed on the back burner: the well-being of those responsible for caring for patients who require continuous support.

During the presentation, it was highlighted that attention is often solely focused on the patient, while caregivers face physical and emotional overload, social isolation, and difficulties in organizing daily activities.

The app was designed to gather routine management tools, such as medication control, nutrition, hygiene, and vital signs, as well as educational content with guidance on emergency situations and basic care.

Another differentiator is the feature called "Take Care of Yourself," aimed at the emotional support of caregivers. This space includes resources such as mood tracking, breathing exercises, meditation, and psychological support options.

The proposal also includes organizing clinical information, allowing for tracking patient progress and facilitating communication with family members.

The team's intention is to begin validating the tool with family caregivers and, subsequently, expand its use to long-term care institutions and health operators.

Encouragement for walking earns third place for the Corujas team

The Corujas team secured third place with a proposal aimed at encouraging physical activity, especially walking.

The project arose from a reflection on the difficulty of maintaining healthy habits over time. Although the benefits of physical activity are well-known, the results are not always perceived immediately, which can contribute to giving up.

As an alternative, the students envisioned an app with gamification elements, user interaction, and a rewards system to encourage continued practice.

The platform would allow users to track their activities and accumulate benefits that could be used at partner establishments, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, and services related to health and well-being.

The proposed business model targets companies interested in promoting healthy habits among their employees, with the potential for expansion to health plans and educational institutions.

The proposal aims to transform small daily achievements into incentives for long-term results, bringing health promotion closer to technological tools and engagement strategies.

Education that goes beyond the classroom

In addition to the competition, the Unesc Challenge integrates the institutional proposal to offer experiences that complement academic training and expand students' professional opportunities.

During the event's opening, Professor Ivanete Schneider, representing the Agency for Development, Innovation, and Technology Transfer (Aditt) at Unesc, emphasized that Innovation is an important dimension of university education, alongside Teaching, Research, and Extension. According to her, initiatives like the Challenge allow students to develop autonomy and understand that entrepreneurship can also be part of their professional journeys.

"As a University, we have the role of preparing you to choose what to do, to have autonomy and to be able to say: what if I want to start a startup? If I want to start a business, how do I do that? Events like this are part of your education," she emphasized.

She also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinarity, especially in the Health field, where integrated work among different specialties is essential for professional practice.

"This is a space to build friendships, to work practically with multidisciplinary teams," she stated.

By encouraging students to take advantage of the experience, Ivanete highlighted that learning also occurs through interaction, knowledge exchange, and collective solution building.

Competition continues with new stages

The Unesc Challenge 2026 brings together students from different fields of knowledge in qualifying rounds focused on developing innovative ideas and promoting university entrepreneurship.

After the participation of Health students, the next stage is scheduled for November 14, with students from the Sciences, Engineering, and Technology.

The grand final is scheduled for November 28 and 29, at the Criciúma Innovation Center (CRIO), bringing together the participants who qualified throughout the competition.

 Text and photos: Raíssa Albano/Special/Agecom/Unesc