Problem Scope

NeuroHack will bring together an interdisciplinary community interested in developing solutions for engineering a new generation scalable neurotechnologies.

We are seeking innovative ways to see, treat, or approach the brain.

Brain disorders are humanity’s greatest health challenge, costing billions annually in Europe and the US and affecting hundreds of millions of lives. Existing breakthroughs like deep brain stimulation or cell therapies prove we can treat the brain, but not at scale. Complex surgeries, high costs, and limited expertise keep these life-changing interventions out of reach for most who need them.

NeuroHack challenges innovators to break this paradigm. We’re calling for bold ideas and prototypes that make neurotechnology radically scalable, shifting from last-resort surgeries to accessible, minimally invasive solutions that could reach millions.

Imagine next-generation neural interfaces that can sense, stimulate, or modulate brain activity without additional surgery. Picture wearable or injectable devices that provide high-resolution access to brain signals, or non-invasive systems that offer real-time feedback and control.

Envisioning the future of neurotech

Inspired by historical breakthroughs like the transvenous pacemaker, which transformed heart surgery from a high-risk procedure to a routine intervention, we’d like to see a similar innovation leap in neuroscience. Key targets include:

  • Non-surgical access – therapies delivered systemically, intranasally, or via minimally invasive implants.

  • Autonomous delivery – engineered cells, viruses, or microdevices navigating to deep brain targets without open surgery.

  • Wireless therapeutic action – control neural circuits via bioelectronics, sonogenetics, or magnetogenetics.

  • Non-invasive readouts – biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring through blood tests or other  non-invasive measurements.

NeuroHack encourages solutions to challenging questions, such as:

  • How can non-invasive methods achieve deep brain targeting reliably?

  • What anatomical pathways or delivery vectors can overcome the blood-brain barrier safely?

  • How can devices or biological therapies minimize external power requirements while remaining autonomous?

  • Which biomarkers or brain targets are most impactful for scalable intervention?

  • How can materials, robotics, or miniaturized imaging enable next-generation neural interfaces?