Innovation is the crucial driving force in the world of sports technology. In popular sports new devices and gadgets are an important means to improve turnover or open up new markets. In many competitive sports advanced technologies provide the cutting edge for success. And, most important of all, for certain target groups like senior citizens or for the handicapped, innovative developments are necessary to gain access to the world of sports and movement at all.

To foster these developments, ispo - the sports community, the Technical University of Munich, and the German Interdisciplinary Assocation for Sports Technology (divers) have established the ispo-TUM Academic Challenge Award (worth EURO 2,500), which will be awarded once every year during ispo. Eligible for this award will be all contributions from the world of sports technology that in one way or another combine innovativeness and systematic reasoning with practical relevance. Contributions must fit into either of the four categories health, popular and leisure sports, competitive sports, and research. Contributions will be accepted from students, researchers or other members of academic institutions world-wide.