Foresight Challenge 2025 | Recap

Foresight Challenge 2025: Shaping Tomorrow, Together

Here is a recap of the highlights and insights from the inaugural Foresight Challenge 2025, an initiative hosted by the Graduate Academy of the TU Dresden in partnership with the ZEISS Innovation Hub Dresden.

From Pizza & Pitch Party to Grand Finale

The journey began with a Pitch & Pizza Party, where our participants, out of nearly 40 impressive applications, came together to spark ideas and form teams.

Through a series of hands-on workshops on foresight methods, participants learned to look beyond the horizon and envision the societal impact of their research in 2050. This collaborative spirit set the stage for a dynamic Grand Finale, where the top five teams presented their bold visions for the future.

Meet our Teams

Our five finalist teams - BioClean, CeLacta, MedLog, Microplastometry, and Octopus - rose to the challenge. Their presentations showcased not only scientific creativity but also a deep commitment to addressing future societal needs through technology and collaboration. 

Kudos to all of you who joined us on this journey to develop Foresighting skills - you did a great job!

Team CeLacta

• Their vision: In 2040, you can buy breast milk for your baby in the store, produced by cultured milk cells. With their pitch, they not only convinced the audience but also the jury and won both awards—Best Foresighters, Best Futurists, and Audience Favorite Award! 

Team BiOClean

• Their vision: In 2040, you will produce your BPA-free drinking water at home. Our jury was convinced by their straightforward methodology approach and awarded the team, together with CeLacta, the Best Foresighters.

Team MedLog

• Their vision: In 2040, the backbone of the surgery theater will be a multimodal AI that assists the surgical team in decision-making. The audience rewarded MedLog and CeLacta with the Audience Favorite Award.

Team Microplastrometry

• Their vision: In 2040, you will analyze your tap water for micropollutants, and it will be filtered directly, enhancing water quality for all.

Team Octopus

• Their vision: In 2040, surgical planning and training of the respiratory system will be in patient-specific VR and AR, leading to better outcomes.

The Power of Partnership

The Foresight Challenge 2025 was more than a competition - it was a testament to the power of partnership between academia and industry. The invaluable expertise of our jury, Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart, Dr. Rudolf von Buenau, and Dr. Kai Wicker, made this event a resounding success.

Looking Ahead

This challenge has proven that when bright minds unite, supported by strong partnerships, the possibilities for innovation are limitless. We are proud of what we have achieved together and look forward to inspiring even more creative solutions and visionary thinking in the years to come. We're looking forward to our next Forsight Challenge, which is already in the making!

Thank you to all our teams, partners, and supporters for making the first Foresight Challenge such an exciting journey. 

Do you have any questions?
We'd love to hear from you!

© Klaus Gigga

Deputy Head of Unit

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Angela Böhm M.A.

Career Development , TUD Young Investigators, PR & Events

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