Bring Your Innovation to Vienna!

Following the success of the inaugural Innovation Session held during the 2026 Congress in Prague, the World Health Organization and ESCEO are pleased to announce the expansion of this initiative for the 2027 edition of the Congress in Vienna.

The session will now be presented as the WHO-ESCEO Bone and Joint Innovative Session, reflecting its broader focus on both osteoporosis and osteoarthritis innovation. Taking place on 8 April 2027, immediately before the Opening Ceremony, the session offers a unique platform to showcase some of the most promising scientific and technological advances in musculoskeletal health. Selected applicants will be invited to deliver a concise 7-minute pitch to a live audience of leading experts and compete for one of the WHO-ESCEO Innovation Prizes, recognising the most outstanding innovations presented during the session.

Eligibility

Bone Component - Open to PRECCO members and academic researchers.
Joint Component - this inaugural edition is open exclusively to corporate partners.

The WHO-ESCEO Innovation Prize

Three prestigious awards will be presented on stage during the Opening Ceremony:

• WHO-ESCEO Innovation Prize for Osteoarthritis Research
• WHO-ESCEO Innovation Prize for Academic Research in Osteoporosis
• WHO-ESCEO Innovation Prize for Corporate Research in Osteoporosis

Applications demonstrating a high level of scientific excellence will also receive a WHO Collaborating Centre-ESCEO Certificate of Excellence, recognising outstanding innovation even if not selected for one of the Innovation Prizes.

Key Dates

• 2 November 2026 - Call for submissions opens (proposal, 5 pages max)
• 15 January 2027 - Deadline for submissions
• 15 January - 15 February 2027 - Initial review by ESCEO / WHO
• 8 April 2027 - Public pitching session & Award Ceremony, WCO-IOF-ESCEO Opening Ceremony

For more information, please click here : https://www.wco-iof-esceo.org/awards#award-whoesceo-innovation-prize