Surgical Robot Challenge 2025

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Deadline Extended to 23:59 GMT Friday 28th March 2025

We are thrilled to announce that the application period for our annual Surgical Robot Challenge is now officially OPEN!

While applications are open to diverse focus areas, this year we are particularly interested in submissions that celebrate frugal innovation, practical application, and thoughtful design in showcasing how robots can enhance surgical procedures with a focus on maximising impact on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Developing surgical prototypes for LMICs demands a focus on affordability, simplicity, and scalability. Prototypes must address critical surgical gaps by being adaptable to resource-constrained environments, such as limited electricity or sterilisation facilities. Ultimately, such innovations should improve surgical care access, reduce mortality rates, and enhance health equity in LMICs.

Applications will be assessed on the following areas:

Application
Innovation
Design

This global competition draws participation from top surgical robotics groups worldwide, providing a platform to unveil inventive concepts across various surgical robot platforms.

There will be an online award ceremony in May (date TBC) and the winning teams will be given free registration to attend the Hamlyn Symposium on 25-26th June. We will also invite a selection of the most visually compelling demos (not necessarily the winning entries) to the symposium to showcase their entry! Those invited will also be granted free registration to the symposium.

Entries are encouraged to incorporate a newly developed aspect, building upon existing ideas. While submissions are ideally expected to manifest as final working prototypes, the judging panel will also evaluate designs and plans. The emphasis is on introducing innovative elements to enhance the overall concept, whether through advancements in functionality, efficiency, or other relevant criteria.

We welcome applications from institutions globally, and all applicants must have affiliations with academic organisations. While we do accept applications from the industry, it is imperative that they collaborate with an academic institution to be eligible for consideration. This collaborative approach ensures a synergistic relationship between academic and industrial expertise in the submitted applications.

All applicants are asked to submit:

online entry form (below);
a 2-minute video demo of their entry;
a 5-slide powerpoint presentation.

Please note the video time and presentation slide limits are strictly enforced.

Deadline for applications: 23:59 GMT 28th March 2025

Surgical Robot Challenge Application

Surgical Robot Challenge 2025 Application

Your Details

Title *

Name *

Name

First

Last

Email *

Research Group *

Institution *

Website/URL *

Are you *

Undergrad

Master

PhD Student

PostDoc

Lecturer

OtherOther

Team Details

Team Members *

Please provide details of all team members including: First Name, Surname, Email, Institution.

Is your project in collaboration with and/or sponsored by a company? *

Yes, with a start-up company under 3 years old

Yes, with a company of 3 or more years old

Company Name *

Company Website/URL *

Please describe the role of the company in your entry: *

0 of 300 max characters

Project Details

Project Title *

Lay Summary *

0 of 700 max characters

Please submit a description of your project using layman terms.

Introduction *

0 of 900 max characters

Materials and Method *

0 of 2000 max characters

Results *

0 of 900 max characters

Discussion *

0 of 1300 max characters

What software and hardware aspects of your project are new to this entry to the Surgical Robot Challenge? *

0 of 1000 max characters

What aspects of your entry are particularly relevant to frugal innovation and what are the potential impacts on LMICs? *

0 of 1000 max characters

We will also invite a selection of the most visually compelling demos (not necessarily the winners) to the symposium to showcase their entry! Those invited will be granted free registration to the symposium.

Would you be interested in showcasing your demo at the symposium if invited: *

Yes

Attach your 2 minute video *

Maximum file size: 16MB

Accepted file types: avi, flv, mkv, mp3, m4a, m4b, mp4, m4p, wma. Max. file size: 16 MB. Please Note: Entries that exceed the 2-minute time limit will not be accepted.

Attach your 5 slide presentation *

Maximum file size: 16MB

Accepted file types: pdf. Max. file size: 16 MB. Please submit a PDF file. Please Note: Presentations that exceed the 5 slide/page limit will not be accepted.

Consent *

By submitting this form, I understand my video entry will be posted on the Hamlyn Symposium website and YouTube channel, and that the Hamlyn Centre retains the right to use it in the future. I can withdraw my consent at any point by emailing Marianne Knight on marianne.knight@imperial.ac.uk.

Start Over

If you are human, leave this field blank.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Does the competition have a particular focus, such as testing, sterilisation or awareness?

There is no special focus – we are looking for any entries that demonstrate innovation, application and design in how robots can improve procedures leading to quicker recovery, smaller scars, less blood loss, less pain, earlier return to work and less stay in hospital.

Does the entry have to be an entirely new system, or will adaptations of existing systems be accepted?

There should be some newly developed aspect to your entry, but it can be based on an existing idea.

Are entries expected to be final working prototypes, or would designs and plans be accepted?

A working prototype is preferable, but the judging panel will consider designs and plans.

Do entrants have to be associated with an academic organisation to enter?

Yes. We are happy to accept entries from industry, however these must be in partnership with an academic institution. We ask that the academic partner makes the application to enter.

Will my entry be at a disadvantage if I come from a small medical robotics group?

No, we judge the entries in a way that allow research teams of any size to do well in the competition. For example, a novel idea from a single researcher could win an award for best innovation, whilst a fully-fledged surgical robot contributed to by a large research group could win an award for best design. The key here is that we want to encourage excellence throughout the surgical robotics community and help push the advance of surgical robotics in new and established research groups from around the world.

Can international teams apply?

Yes. We welcome entries from research groups around the world.

Can previous entrants to the challenge apply?

Only if the entry is completely different to any previous submissions.

Please contact Marianne Knight if you have any further questions not covered here.

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Winners 2024

Best Application
A Human-AI Collaborative Robotic Endoscope Holder System, Institute of Medical Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institution , Tianjin University