The Africa Digital Epidemiology and Innovation Network (ADEIN), a part of the Design for Health Practice at CcHUB, has unveiled its new Innovation Challenge.
Themed “Emerging Tech and Digital Interoperability: Innovating for Resilience and Improved Healthcare Delivery,” this program aims to create a platform for innovators to showcase creative technological solutions, simulations, and finished products that provide adaptable, AI-enhanced solutions in healthcare.
Program Goals
The challenge is a strategic effort by ADEIN to support and fund talented innovators who are developing products that leverage emerging technologies to improve healthcare.
The focus is on digitized disease monitoring and tracking systems, epidemiology support, and the use of real-world data to enhance healthcare impact in Africa.
Call to Innovators
The ADEIN Ambassadors are inviting health tech innovators to participate in the ADEIN Innovation Challenge.
This initiative is designed to encourage healthcare entrepreneurs to use emerging technologies to address gaps in the healthcare sector, particularly in healthcare delivery, disease preparedness, and climate health in Africa. ADEIN will support 12 innovative startups with promising solutions.
Innovation Categories
Participants can submit projects under the following categories:
- Healthcare Delivery: Innovations that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare services.
- Disease Preparedness: Solutions that enhance the ability to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks.
- Climate Health: Technologies addressing the intersection of climate change and health impacts.
Eligibility Criteria
- Team Composition: All team members must be citizens of African countries or currently studying/working in an African organization. Teams must have at least two and no more than five members.
- Technical Skills: Teams must include at least one technically skilled member, such as a software developer, data scientist, or AI engineer.
- Healthcare Expertise: Teams are encouraged to include members with healthcare domain expertise, such as doctors, nurses, or public health professionals.
- Development Stage: The challenge is open to solutions at various development stages, including early-stage concepts or prototypes.
- Focus Areas: Proposals must focus on innovative digital epidemiology solutions addressing public health challenges relevant to Africa.
- Technology Utilization: Projects should leverage technology and/or AI to tackle specific healthcare challenges and demonstrate scalability and potential for widespread adoption.
- Impact Potential: Solutions should have the potential for significant positive impact on healthcare delivery, accessibility, or affordability.
- Target Audience: Open to startups and early-stage ventures.
Benefits for Winners
- Monetary Award: Winners will receive $1,250 to help upscale their innovations.
- Pre-Incubation Program: Gain access to CcHUB’s 4-month pre-incubation program, which offers tailored coaching on investment readiness, product development, market access, and more.
- Mentorship: Participants will benefit from mentorship opportunities and connections with local tech hubs and experts.
- Tailored Support: The startup support unit caters to entrepreneurs at every stage, providing tailored assistance.
- Exposure: Winners will gain exposure to potential investors and funding opportunities to help scale their innovations and bring them to market.
- Additional Offers: Participants can also look forward to many more exciting opportunities.
Application Deadline
The deadline for applications is June 21, 2024.
Interested innovators can apply by clicking HERE.
The ADEIN Innovation Challenge is a significant opportunity for health tech innovators to develop and scale solutions that can transform healthcare delivery in Africa. By fostering creativity and leveraging emerging technologies, ADEIN aims to create a resilient and efficient healthcare system that meets the continent’s needs.
