TUM TEMPO Initiative Hackathon & Symposium 2026 in Singapore

To develop new approaches for healthy ageing and prevention, the TUM TEMPO Initiative Hackathon & Symposium 2026 brought together researchers, early-career scientists, and innovation partners at the CREATE Tower in Singapore.

The event was organized by TUMCREATE in collaboration with partners from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU Singapore). The initiative was led by Prof. Dr. Manuel Spitschan (Assistant Professorship of Chronobiology & Health). The Department of Health and Sport Sciences was further represented by Department Head Prof. Dr. Joachim Hermsdörfer (Chair of Human Movement Science), Prof. Dr. Karsten Köhler (Assistant Professorship of Exercise, Nutrition and Health), Prof. Dr. Orkan Okan (Assistant Professorship of Health Literacy), and Prof. Dr. Nikkil Sudharsanan (Assistant Professorship of Behavioral Science for Disease Prevention and Health Care).

“With TUMCREATE in Singapore, TUM has a strong presence in Southeast Asia. Thanks to its economic strength and distinctive urban structure, Singapore offers outstanding conditions for university-based research. ‘Health’ has been defined as one of the central themes of the national research strategy. This opens up a wide range of opportunities for the TUM School of Health and Medicine to establish major collaborative research initiatives with local universities. The presence of Manuel Spitschan, the visits by TUM professors, and the joint organization of the event send a strong signal in this regard,” explains Prof. Hermsdörfer.

The event focused on interdisciplinary approaches in the fields of prevention research, digital health, and healthy ageing. The two-day format combined a hackathon with a scientific symposium, creating space for creative exchange among researchers, early-career scientists, and international partners. The aim was to generate new momentum for joint research activities between Munich and Singapore and to connect different scientific perspectives on healthy ageing.

“Healthy ageing and prevention must be approached in a more integrative way,” explains Prof. Spitschan. “What matters is not only what we do in our daily lives, but also when we do it — for example, when we eat, sleep, or exercise. This temporal structure of our lives plays a central role in prevention.”

On the first day of the event, teams of doctoral candidates and researchers developed digital solution approaches for healthy ageing as part of the TEMPO Hackathon. Participants worked on concepts designed to combine health sciences, technology, and data analysis. Ideas included intelligent calendar systems that integrate health-promoting activities into everyday life, as well as applications that specifically recommend healthy restaurant options.

On the second day, the TEMPO Symposium focused on scientific presentations and discussions. Researchers presented current approaches to prevention research and examined the challenges of an ageing society from different scientific perspectives. At the same time, the event provided opportunities for networking and for expanding joint research activities between TUM and NTU Singapore.

A central topic was the connection between basic research and practical application. The aim of future projects is to better understand the biological mechanisms of ageing and to derive scalable everyday interventions from these findings.

At the conclusion of the event, the finalist teams of the hackathon presented their concepts during the TEMPO Hackathon Pitch Competition. The best ideas were subsequently awarded prizes. “Through the close collaboration between TUM, NTU Singapore, and TUMCREATE, new approaches are expected to emerge that will shape healthy ageing in a scientifically grounded and socially impactful way,” Prof. Spitschan concluded.

To the Homepage of the Chair of Human Movement Science
To the Homepage of the Rudolf Mössbauer Assistant Professorship of Chronobiology & Health

Contact

Prof. Dr. Joachim Hermsdörfer
Chair of Human Movement Science
Am Olympiacampus 11
80809 Munich

Phone: +49 89 289 24550
Email: joachim.hermsdoerfer(at)tum.de

Prof. Dr. Manuel Spitschan
Rudolf Mößbauer Chair of Chronobiology & Health
Am Olympiacampus 11
80809 Munich

Phone: +49 89 289 24544
Email: manuel.spitschan(at)tum.de

Text: Bastian Daneyko
Photos: Rachel Melanie Leo, TUMCREATE