Student Innovators of the Year Solve Challenges in Elderly Care

When it is easy to do the right thing, it is more likely to be done correctly. That was the starting point for Pontus Jansson and Adam Hansson when they developed a user-friendly digital service for staff working in day-care services and short-term residential care within municipal elderly care. The solution has been purchased and adopted by one of Sweden’s municipalities. They have now been named Student Innovators of the Year 2026.

“It feels fantastic, and it is rewarding that the jury recognises the innovation in what we do. We believe the future lies in systems designed for people, rather than people being trained to adapt to systems,” says Pontus Jansson, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from Luleå University of Technology.

Municipal elderly care depends on effective administration. Information on attendance, meals and completed activities forms the basis for fees, reimbursements and follow-up procedures, while also needing to be handled securely in accordance with GDPR requirements. At the same time, records must be maintained in a busy working environment where administrative tasks take time away from care provision. This creates a need for solutions that are secure, user-friendly and aligned with operational workflows.

“We met staff from different services and simply asked them what was making their daily work more difficult. My advice to others is to do the same: talk to the people doing the job. There are countless problems out there waiting to be solved,” says Adam Hansson, who also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from Luleå University of Technology.

The digital service brings together staff scheduling, bookings and room management with the recording of attendance and meals, a process that takes only a few seconds to complete during the course of work. Information is handled securely, duplicate work is reduced, and the municipality gains reliable data for decision-making. The solution builds on a degree project carried out by the award winners in close collaboration with elderly care staff.

With a system that works effectively, accurate data is collected from the outset, while employees can spend more time providing care and less time on administration. Managers receive reliable evidence for decision-making, and municipalities reduce the risk of mishandling personal data.

According to Adam Hansson and Pontus Jansson, many large systems offer the right functionality but are rarely designed with frontline staff in mind. When digital tools do not fit the realities of the working day, employees often create their own workarounds using paper records, spreadsheets and manual processes. This results in more administration, increased risks relating to personal data, and additional costs for municipalities, both through underused systems and the extra work required alongside them.

The award recipients are selected by a jury consisting of representatives from the university’s innovation support system. The award is presented by the Nordea Norrland Foundation.