K J Somaiya School & College of Nursing Promotes Nursing-Led Healthcare Innovation Through Innovation Contest 2026
Held under the theme “Innovate to Heal, Steer to Transform,” the initiative encouraged innovation, entrepreneurship, and practical problem-solving among nursing students, faculty, and healthcare professionals. It aimed to promote scalable healthcare solutions for the most pressing challenges facing healthcare delivery today.
- By Newsdesk
- Mumbai
- May 21, 2026
As healthcare systems evolve, innovation can no longer remain limited to research labs and technology ecosystems alone. Many of the most practical opportunities for improving patient care emerge much closer to the bedside. Recognising the critical role nurses play in identifying challenges across patient safety, clinical workflows, and healthcare delivery, K J Somaiya School & College of Nursing organised the Innovation Contest 2026 in collaboration with the Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI) – Maharashtra State Branch at the Somaiya Ayurvihar Campus.
Held under the theme “Innovate to Heal, Steer to Transform,” the initiative encouraged innovation, entrepreneurship, and practical problem-solving among nursing students, faculty, and healthcare professionals. It aimed to promote scalable healthcare solutions for the most pressing challenges facing healthcare delivery today. The contest received over 42 entries from nursing colleges across Maharashtra. Participants included undergraduate nursing students, postgraduate students, professional nurses, and nursing faculty. The innovations presented focused on improving patient care, nursing efficiency, workflow management, and patient safety outcomes.
Prof. Avani Harshad Oke, Principal, K J Somaiya School & College of Nursing, said, “Healthcare innovation cannot remain limited to technology or infrastructure alone. Professionals working closest to patients often possess the deepest understanding of operational inefficiencies and unmet needs within care systems. By encouraging nursing students and practitioners to think beyond routine clinical responsibilities, we are fostering a mindset where healthcare improvement begins with observation, inquiry, and purposeful problem-solving. Such initiatives reflect our commitment to building academic environments where knowledge translates into meaningful real-world impact.”
Dr Vivek Sunnapwar, Principal, K J Somaiya Institute of Technology, added, “Nursing has always been central to healthcare delivery, yet its role in innovation is often under-recognised. Through Innovation Contest 2026, we wanted to create a platform where students and professionals could apply their clinical understanding to develop practical solutions for contemporary healthcare challenges. More importantly, we wanted participants to recognise their potential not only as caregivers, but as contributors to the future of healthcare systems.”
Innovation at the Point of Care
Among the innovations recognised during the competition, Ms Dena John and Ms Sneha Sivichan from P D Hinduja College of Nursing, Mumbai, won the undergraduate category at the competition. Their entry, Curo-Shield, was a device designed for automated disinfection, protection, exposure, and resealing of intravenous hubs to strengthen infection prevention and patient safety protocols.
In the professional nursing and postgraduate category, Mr Karnellya Ohol and Prof Janaki Shinde from D Y Patil College of Nursing, Kolhapur, were recognised for ‘By the Nurses, For the Nurses’. The entry was a technology-enabled solution focused on seamless nursing shift handovers and accurate bedside drug calculations to improve workflow efficiency while reducing clinical errors.
The contest was evaluated by a jury comprising Dr Santosh Narayankhedkar, Dean, Academics and Research, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, and Dr Vivek Sunnapwar, Principal, K J Somaiya Institute of Technology.
Building Innovation Through Mentorship and Practice
Beyond recognising innovation, the initiative was also designed to help promising ideas progress towards real-world implementation. Approximately 10 shortlisted teams have been connected with the broader Somaiya innovation ecosystem. This includes incubation support through riidl, Somaiya Vidyavihar University's incubation centre, and access to engineering institutions for mentorship, technical guidance, and prototype development assistance. The goal is to help teams refine their concepts and convert early-stage ideas into fully developed, implementation-ready products.
Participants are being encouraged to further test their innovations, generate supporting data, and evaluate the efficacy and efficiency of their solutions. Guidance around intellectual property protection, including copyrights and patents, is also being extended as teams continue refining their projects.
Nursing as a Discipline of Innovation
Supported by the Trained Nurses Association of India – Maharashtra State Branch, the initiative reflects a growing recognition that nurses can contribute not only to care delivery, but also to research, innovation, and the design of more responsive healthcare systems.
By integrating innovation, mentorship, and applied problem-solving into nursing education, K J Somaiya School & College of Nursing continues to strengthen pathways for students and healthcare professionals. Through these pathways, they can bridge academic learning with real-world healthcare applications and actively contribute to building safer, more efficient, and future-ready healthcare systems.