European hospitals, biobanks, and research institutions have extensive health data—from medical imaging data and long-term cohorts to multi-omics data and clinical registries. According to SPRIND, the potential for AI-based medical innovations is currently only partially utilized.

With 'Recoding Medicine', high-quality health datasets should be explored and curated, and connected with concrete AI applications. Each participating team must prepare at least one unique dataset with high clinical or societal relevance and demonstrate its utility through an AI application.

Possible applications range from the identification of new biomarkers to diagnostics and clinical decision support, to AI-supported searches for new uses of already known substances.

Access to a suitable dataset is a prerequisite

For an application, an AI idea alone is not enough: teams must already have proven access to at least one suitable health dataset . Data protection and data sovereignty are mandatory frameworks for the challenge.

In addition, SPRIND expects each project to make a substantial and documented public contribution. How this is structured and at what level data, tools, or other results are made accessible can vary depending on the project.

For teams lacking either AI expertise or access to suitable health data, a matchmaking platform provided by the Foresight Institute is available to help bring together data owners and AI experts.

Up to 1.485 million euros per team

The challenge spans a total of 24 months and three stages. After a Pitch Day in early November 2026, up to 13 teams can start the twelve-month first stage. There, SPRIND will provide up to 480,000 euros per team .

Up to seven teams will then move to the second stage and can receive up to 455,000 euros for another six months. In the third and final stage, up to four teams will be supported for another six months with up to 550,000 euros each. In total, up to 1.485 million euros per team is possible, plus VAT if applicable.

Funding is provided as pre-commercial procurement (PCP). The challenge is funded by the Federal Ministry of Health. Additionally, SPRIND offers technical, regulatory, and commercial coaching as well as contacts to partners, investors, and industry.

Application until October 16, 2026

The application deadline is October 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The prerequisite is especially proven access to at least one suitable health dataset. A webinar on the challenge will take place on October 5, 2026, at 10:00 AM.

The challenge is fundamentally open to participants from all over Europe; partners from other parts of the world can also be involved through collaborations.