Got an idea for a study that needs continuous physiological or movement data, but no kit to collect it? Milbotix has opened its SmartSocks®DISCOVERY Pioneers Competition 2026, offering wearable research kits to the most ambitious project ideas. It’s free to enter, open to researchers and research students anywhere in the world, and dementia has a category all of its own. Applications close on 31 December 2026.
SmartSocks®DISCOVERY is a research-ready wearable that looks and feels like an ordinary pair of socks. It captures electrodermal activity (EDA), pulse rate and pulse rate variability, skin temperature, acceleration and angular velocity, with real-time streaming and offline buffering. From January 2027 it will also report 16 temporal and spatial gait measures. Because it’s discreet and comfortable, it opens up studies with people who won’t tolerate a wristband or chest strap, which is a big part of why it was first developed with people living with dementia in mind. You can read more about the platform in our post on the launch of SmartSocks DISCOVERY.
This is the second year of the competition. You can see who won last time, and the kind of projects that caught the judges’ eye, in our round-up of the 2025 winners.
The six categories
- Dementia: including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, looking at physiological changes, behavioural symptoms, care and quality of life.
- Other neurological disorders: such as Parkinson’s disease and neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Stress: physiological arousal, anxiety and stress responses, and how to monitor them.
- Sleep: sleep physiology, patterns, quality and disturbance.
- Rehabilitation: physical recovery, therapeutic interventions and outcomes.
- Movement: gait, mobility, physical activity and balance.
There’s plenty of overlap with dementia research beyond the first category. Sleep disturbance, agitation, falls and gait changes are all live questions in the field, so think about where your idea fits best.
What you could win
There’s a winner and a runner-up in every category.
- Winner: a SmartSocks®DISCOVERY Kit, with five pairs of socks and two sensor units, plus a charger, laundry bag and dashboard access.
- Runner-up: a SmartSocks®DISCOVERY Starter Kit, with two pairs of socks and one sensor unit, plus a charger, laundry bag and dashboard access.
The prize is the equipment, not funding, so you’ll need to cover staff time and any other study costs yourself.
Who can apply
The competition is open to researchers and research students from the health sciences, engineering, computer science, psychology or a related discipline, anywhere in the world. Team entries are welcome. Your project must be original, must use SmartSocks®DISCOVERY (capturing data from one foot or both), and must be achievable within 12 months.
How it’s judged
Milbotix shortlists the entries, then an independent panel picks the winner and runner-up in each category. Applications are scored on originality, impact, the robustness of your approach, the strength of your team, and whether it can realistically be done in 12 months.
How to apply
You’ll need to describe your project in 1,300 words or less. Download the application form and the information for applicants, which explains what to include and covers the terms and conditions, then email your completed form to the competition team. Questions can go to contact@milbotix.com.
Key dates
- 31 December 2026: closing date for applications
- 3 January 2027: shortlisting complete
- 31 January 2027: winners and runners-up chosen
- 5 February 2027: all applicants notified by email
If wearables in dementia research are new territory for you, our livestream on wearables and dementia: research challenges and opportunities with Milbotix founder Dr Zeke Steer is a good place to start.
Closing date: 31 December 2026
Rahul Sidhu
DEMON Network