| Modulkategorie / Category |
|
Pflicht / Compulsory
|
Wahlpflicht / Elective compulsory
|
Wahl / Optional
|
|
|
|
x
|
| Durchführende Hochschule / University |
ZHAW |
| Gültigkeit RPO / Validity of study regulation |
29 January 2008 |
| Gültigkeit Anhang / Validity amendment |
Pflege (PF) V 7.0.0
Physiotherapie (PT) V 10.0.0 |
| Semester / Term |
PF 4, 6
PT 2, 4, 6 |
| Voraussetzung / Pre-requirements |
Number of places is limited to 24 (due to clinical immersion at the hospital). Admission based on qualification:
1st round of applications by 30 Nov 2025 (motivation & CV), waiting list open until 31 Jan 2026 |
| Unterrichtssprache / Teaching language |
English |
| Arbeitsaufwand / Workload (h) |
Gesamtarbeitszeit (h)
Total workload (h) |
180
|
|
Kontaktstudium (h)
Course of study with compulsory attendance (h) (=KS)
|
Begleitetes Selbststudium (h) / Guided self-studies (h) (=bSS)
|
Autonomes Selbststudium (h) / Autonomous self-study (h) (=aSS)
|
|
60
|
90
|
30
|
| Grobziele / General aims |
The goal of this course is to learn the “Biodesign” approach developed at Stanford University to foster breakthrough innovation in medical technology and digital health. |
| Abschlusskompetenzen / Learning outcomes |
Understand and apply a repeatable process to identify a significant unmet health need and major market opportunity. |
| Lerninhalte / Learning contents |
Introduction: This 6 ECTS- and Triple-E Award winning program is modelled on the pioneering Stanford Biodesign training to identify major market opportunities and invent high potential digital health solutions (e.g. patient apps or DTx) or medical devices (e.g. implants). It provides hands-on experience in shadowing patients and healthcare professionals, develop a compelling product idea and seed-stage business plan. Highly motivated students will benefit from interdisciplinary project groups with engineering/IT, healthcare and business student members and extensive coaching by industry specialists
Content overview: Biodesign process, clinical immersion in hospital, hands-on business strategy, design thinking, regulatory, reimbursement, intellectual property, R&D and venture financing workshops.
Information on the detailed programme will be provided to the participants in an Info-Videocall 6-8 weeks before course starts.
Mandatory literature for module days: Biodesign – The Process of Innovating Medical Technologies, Paul Yock, Stefanos Zenios, Josh Makower, Todd Brinton, Uday Kumar, Cambridge Academic (2015). ISBN 978-1-107-08735-4
Stage 1 Needs Finding
1.1 Biodesign process and strategic focus
1.2 Observation and problem identification
1.3 Disease fundamentals
1.4 Clinical immersion
1.5 Need statement development
Stage 2 Needs Screening
2.1 Treatment options
2.2 Market gap and stakeholder analysis
2.3 Needs filtering
2.4 Intellectual property basics
Stage 3 Concept Generation with Design thinking tools
3.1 Ideation and brainstorming
3.2 Prototyping, concept screening, Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Stage 4 Product Concept and Business Strategy
4.2 Regulatory and clinical basics
4.3 Reimbursement basics
4.4 Research and development strategy for hard- and software
4.5 Business and fund-raising strategy |
| Lehrformen / Teaching methods |
contact lessons, workshops, group work, aSS, bSS
Self-study (pre-readings, total 30 hours) during spring semester.
12 full-day workshops (teaching, in class activities and group work progress meetings) with independent self-study immersion and small group work periods (total 150 hours) to conduct interviews and prepare a minimum viable product and business plan (every course day there will be group work sessions). |
| Leistungsnachweise / Learning assessments |
Anzahl / Number
|
Art / Form
|
Gewichtung und Bewertung /
Weighting and rating
|
|
3
|
Test on pre-readings (multiple choice, 30 min, 25% of grade)
Group Presentation 1 (written & oral, 16 min, 25% of grade) on needs & market selection
Group Presentation 2 (written & oral, 20 min, 50% of grade) on seed-stage business plan incl. (MVP) product concept in-front of Industry Expert Jury
|
25%
25%
50%
|
| Bemerkungen / Notes |
Start Date: 13 July 2026
End Date: 28 July 2026
Contact: School of Health Sciences (Co-Leader): Nicole Zigan, ziga@zhaw.ch |