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What is the IE Business School Global Innovation Challenge?
This year, we will host top teams from business schools across the world to tackle issues faced in the retail and pharma industry, helping create a community of forward-thinking future leaders. Selected participants will be invited to the exclusive opportunity to experience a class-like project and learn about our partner company Johnson & Johnson.
Through innovation & creativity, teams of 3-4 students from business schools worldwide will challenge themselves by confronting an issue currently faced by Johnson & Johnson. Only the best 10 teams will have the chance to present their ideas in front of an elite panel of judges in a 2-day event in Madrid to win from €3,000+ in prizes and an exclusive networking opportunity with Top Executives of our partner company, Johnson & Johnson!
The case and competition instructions will be given live on May 21st, and after the presentation, participants will be able to start to work together. Teams will have two weeks to prepare and will reconvene in Madrid on June 4thand 5th to pitch in front of a jury of Johnson & Johnson executives. During the two-day final participants will engage in a number of stimulating activities, such as educational workshops, company visit to Johnson & Johnson’s factory, mentoring sessions with specialists in the case’s topic, and engaging networking activities all throughout Madrid.
Join us for the challenge!
Why Participate?
- Share your Insights with Consulting and Industry Judges
Expect appearances from Johnson & Johnson executives, as well as a surprise consulting firm!
2. Strengthen your Consulting Skills and Knowledge of the Pharma Industry
Put your knowledge and skills to the test by solving a real-life business challenge!
3. Great Prizes for All Participants
All participants receive a gift bag and certificate for participating, with the winners receiving additional awards and internship opportunities!
4. Compete Against Top Business Schools
Participate against peers from the top business schools around the globe.
How can I enroll?
April 26th
Official Launch of Competition
May 24th
Team Submission Deadline & Internal Competition for IE Students
May 27th
Finalist Teams Announced
May 27st
Case Released Live
June 4th&5th
Competition Weekend in Madrid
While in Madrid, participating teams will have access to interesting workshops focused on innovation and also networking events with Johnson & Johnson’s staff and top consultants from other business schools!

The Challenge
The Global Innovation Challenge is a case competition that will bring together students from the best universities around the world. The event will showcase Johnson & Johnson’s unique positioning in retail and pharma, as well as IE Business School’s practical, interactive and global outlook. Association between the two prestigious brands brings awareness and allows for expanded marketing and communication opportunities.
The competition focuses on a current challenge being faced by Johnson & Johnson centered on a product’s market entry. Teams of 3-4 students will face each other, trying to present the best strategy to tackle the issue at hand. The competition is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.
Winners will receive over €3,000 in prizes and internship opportunities at Johnson & Johnson.
Team Structure
Teams are formed of 3 to 4 students currently enrolled in the same business school.
Competition is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Nevertheless, teams must be either entire undergrad or grad students, teams cannot be a mixture of the two.
We strongly recommend forming teams with students from multiple programs to have different perspectives and collaboration across programs. However, this is not mandatory.
The Jury
FAQs
The case competition is open to all graduate and undergraduate schools offering a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), Executive MBAs, Master’s in Management, Bachelor’s in Business Administration or equivalent program with a connection to the business. Only students who are registered in this program at his/her school at the time of application are eligible to participate. If you’re unsure about the eligibility of your program, please contact us.
All of the applicant teams are demonstrating their willingness to travel to Madrid and participate in person. However, in cases of inability to be in Madrid due to extraordinary situations (travel bans, health concerns etc) we encourage to contact consulting.club@ie.edu and get a special approval to participate before applying.
Students are to form teams of 3 to 4 students representing their university. Each school can have ONLY one team on the competition.
Schools are free to self-select their representing team. The common practice is organizing an internal case competition within the school, but we leave that up to each.
The best teams will be chosen from the total number of submitted teams. A total of five graduate and 5 undergraduate teams will participate in the finals.
For IE teams, they must register before May 7th 23:59 CET to compete in the internal selection, and for other schools the selected team must be sent before May 17th 23:59 CET.
The finalist teams will be selected and notified on May 20th, they will have a chance to compete in Madrid during the two-day final on June 4th and 5th.
The case will be given live through a zoom call on May 21st. Team will have a two-week period to develop their recommendation to Johnson & Johnson and present to a panel on June 5th in Madrid.
We will not be sponsoring travel and accommodation expenses. However, once your team is selected, we will help you with accommodation recommendations and with the visa process if required. Food will be provided during the event.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at consulting.club@ie.edu
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Address:
IE Business School
Calle Maria de Molina, 31
Madrid 28006
Email:
consulting.club@ie.edu