Open Innovation Challenge: Call for diabetes ideas

While diabetes technology has improved in the recent years, there is still a great unmet need for innovative solutions that help ease the burden of diabetes and improve the lives of people living with the disease. One of the needs requiring further scrutiny are convenient and less invasive methods for better glucose measurement. That is why DCB's first Open Innovation Challenge focuses on this topic. 

The Diabetes Center Berne (DCB), a private and independent Swiss foundation, founded in 2017 has made it its mission to identify ideas for unmet needs in diabetes technology and translate them into tangible solutions. Through the recently launched initiative, the Open Innovation Challenge the committee awaits innovative ideas from all over the world addressing one of the five areas; non invasive glucose monitoring, implantable sensing and monitoring, other glucose monitoring approaches and glucose data management. 

Eligible to apply are startups, healthcare professionals, researchers or any individual with an idea or insight on how to improve the lives of people living with diabetes. 

A cash prize CHF 100’000 for the winner
After the submission deadline, a panel of DCB experts will select the 50 projects with a high potential to proceed to the next round which includes a two month-mentoring program to refine the ideas and getting feedback. In August the DCB Innovation board will evaluate the ideas to select the best 20 projects that will present at the pitch day in September. Four finalists projects will qualify for personalised coaching, the bootcamp, and CHF 20’000. The finale will take place on 11 November to award the best three ideas. The first place winner will receive CHF 100’000 while the second and third teams will each receive 60’000 and 40’000 respectively. 

Submission closes on 30 June 2021. More information and registration on the website of the Challenge.