UK Canada AgeTech Innovation Exchange competition launches to support healthy ageing
The Northern Health Science Alliance invites companies with innovative products that improve the health and wellbeing of older people to enter the UK Canada AgeTech Innovation Exchange competition to apply for funding to participate in an international exchange visit, or for a place on a virtual support programme.
The competition opened on 3 January and applications will be accepted until 3 February, 2023. Winners will be announced in March where eight winning companies from the UK will be invited to travel to Canada and up to 25 companies from each country will be invited to join virtual programmes designed to help refine and develop their value proposition.
Winning companies from the UK that will participate in the in-person national exchange visit can seek support from Canadian partners to conduct real world evaluation or establish their product in Canada.
A workshop programme provided by Age-Well and CABHI partners will be offered to all inbound UK innovators and the visit will coincide with a major health and technology event such as Collision in Toronto (to be confirmed).
Additionally, winners travelling to Canada will be awarded £2,000 towards travel, subsistence and accommodation for the visits.
The competition is seeking innovative solutions that have reached an appropriate stage of development (usually TRL 6-9), has a perceived or potential significant positive impact on a healthcare priority, resonates with local health and social care system’s healthy ageing priorities and is export ready.
For a chance to be considered, innovations should cover the following challenge areas within an ageing population: Ageing at home; Healthcare and health service delivery; Cognitive and mental health; and Autonomy and independence. Find further details on the Northern Health Science Alliance website.
Companies looking to enter that have products that resonate with the requirements above, should have a credible evidence base.