📌About the Event

The DemCon 2026 UNFORGET Dementia Innovation Challenge is an idea-stage innovation competition organised by Dementia India Alliance (DIA) as part of DemCon 2026. It invites students, researchers, healthcare professionals, caregivers, universities and young innovators to develop practical ideas that can improve dementia care in India. Participants do not need a working prototype to enter the Innovation Challenge. The programme focuses on turning promising ideas into real-world impact through expert mentoring, recognition, incubation opportunities and cash awards.

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ℹ️ Event Details

• Organizer: Dementia India Alliance (DIA).
• Stage: Idea-stage innovation challenge; no prototype required.
• Application Mode: Online through the official DemCon 2026 UNFORGET application form.
• Event Mode: DemCon 2026 is being conducted offline at IIT-M Research Park, Chennai on September 18–19, 2026.
• Innovation Areas:
• Care delivery and service models
• Caregiver support and wellbeing
• Awareness and behaviour change
• Assistive technology and digital health
• Workforce training and skilling
• Policy, financing and scale models

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📅 Important Dates

• Last date to register/apply: August 31, 2026.
• DemCon 2026 event dates: September 18–19, 2026.
• Venue: IIT-M Research Park, Chennai.

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🎯 Eligibility & Rules

• Eligibilty:
• Who can participate: Individuals, teams, startups, companies, academic institutions, hospitals, NGOs and research organisations.
• The Innovation Challenge is particularly suitable for students, universities, researchers, healthcare professionals, caregivers and young innovators.
• Participants from anywhere in India can apply; international applicants are also eligible if their innovation is relevant to India’s dementia-care ecosystem.
• Applicants must be 18 years or older, or participate through an institution or authorised mentor.
• A working prototype is not required for the Innovation Challenge.
• Ideas must be original and participants must own or have the necessary rights to present them.
• Participants retain ownership of their intellectual property (IP).

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🏆 Benefits for the Participants

• Innovation Challenge Winner: ₹1,00,000 cash prize.
• Special Awards: ₹25,000, at the organisers’ discretion.
• Selected participants can also receive:
  • Expert mentoring
  • National recognition
  • Incubation opportunities
  • Opportunities to progress towards real-world implementation
• Mentorship, incubation and pilot opportunities are separate from award decisions and depend on feasibility and partner interest.