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Innovation Booster Digital Health Nation

Transforming healthcare together

The Digital Health Nation Innovation Booster, in partnership with Innosuisse, fosters radical innovation in Swiss healthcare by transforming ideas into solutions that deliver real value to patients and healthcare professionals. ​ ​

Our open innovation bring experts, patients and entrepreneurs together to identify challenges and explore innovative solutions that blend health and technology. Our accelerator programs provide funding and support to develop winning ideas into minimum viable products (MVPs). ​

The call for applications closed on 31 May. Top 20 teams will be informed on 11 June. 

Did you miss the deadline? Express interest and stay informed about our next open call for applications.

Express interest
20
projects accelerated per year
22,500
Swiss francs per idea in non-dilutive funding
30
hours of individualized coaching per idea

How we help

From problem to idea

Through our public event series, such as Health Hack (17-26 April, 2024) we collaborate with patients, clinicians, healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs to explore solutions to healthcare challenges, such as: Patient engagement and empowerment; Healthcare information quality, access, and interoperability; Value based healthcare (VBHC); Healthcare Professional (HCP) education and adoption of digital tools.

From idea to MVP

Our accelerator program offers guidance and support, with experts providing customized coaching on feasibility, prototyping and market readiness. Plus, we provide non-dilutive funding of up to CHF 22,500 per idea.

Preparing you for success

We ensure success at every stage of your project, from ideation to MVP launch.

Extensive networking

Connect with digital health leaders and end users through our extensive network.

Customized coaching

Realize your idea with 30+ hours of personalized mentoring from leading experts.

Secure non-dilutive funding

Funding up to CHF 22,500 to develop and validate your MVP.​

Enhance your visibility

Pitch your digital health startup to investors, partners and users at Day One events.

Innovation space

Collaborate and elevate your skills in our Switzerland Innovation Parks Basel Area workspace​.

​Open innovation methodology

Co-create your product with patient champions and users for guaranteed success. 

Project voices

Kevin Hof
Mavenhealth

Ondrej Zak
Zario

Julia Wenzin Vogel
LEALY

Martin Kubli
Hemalytix

Elena Börlin
Sefit

Joining the Digital Health Nations accelerator opens up opportunities to transform your innovative healthcare ideas into a viable product that solves real-world problems.

Testimonials

Upcoming events

No event found!

Partners

Consortium partners

Interested in partnering with us?

To be part of a public-private consortium, sponsor an annual theme and access radical innovation processes and startups – please contact Yana Yoncheva to learn more about partnership possibilities.

FAQs

Who can apply?

Application requirements: ​​ ​
1. Be a team including a research partner and an implementation partner ​​ ​
2. Be legal entity registered in Switzerland​​ ​
3. Have an idea that fits under one of the Innovation Booster thematic priorities.

If you have any questions about the requirements, please refer to our FAQ section or contact us via email.​ ​ Our program manager  yana.yoncheva@baselarea.swiss  will be happy to support you.

How to apply

Ready for the next step? Your success is only three steps away.
Optional – You can submit your application and express your interest in the program at any time throughout the year.​​

Application process: ​​
1. Refine your idea and find partners by attending our events, where you can meet potential collaborators and gain insight into the challenges in healthcare Innovation Booster addresses.
2. Submit your application between 11 April and 31 May, 2024. Our call for applications is now closed, but you can still express interest.
3. We’ll contact the 20 selected ideas on 11 June, 2024.

Who is eligible to apply for the accelerator program and funding?

​To be eligible for the Innovation Booster program, teams must have at least one research partner and one implementation partner. Research partners can be university research institutes, non-commercial research centers, departmental research institutions or federal research institutes. Implementation partners can be start-ups, SMEs, larger companies, non-profit organizations or others with the potential to contribute to the innovation process.​ The definition of implementation partners is flexible and depends on the nature of the idea being explored. For ideas that are further away from the final customer or B2B projects, research or non-commercial organizations can serve as implementation partners, conducting initial tests with a limited number of users or testing the idea in a limited field. However, for ideas that are closer to the market or B2C products and services, implementation partners must have the capability to offer industrialization or mass production, commercialization and product or service support, depending on the specific case. It’s the responsibility of each Innovation Booster to assess the implementation partners of the supported innovation teams according to this definition.​

Is Swiss residency a requirement for applying to the program?

Innovation boosters aim to promote the economical and societal development of Switzerland, and the ideas must directly contribute to this goal. While international partners can be included in innovation teams, the primary benefit should be for the Swiss economy and society.

The following conditions apply: ​ ​ ​
1. IBs must award and release the innovation team funding to a Swiss beneficiary ​
2. Swiss implementation partner required in every innovation team and value creation must be in Switzerland

What are the program expectations of me?

To fully benefit from the program, we ask for your full dedication to developing your idea. This includes attending workshops and coaching sessions with our team, as well as participating in internal pitch days and demos. It’s mandatory for at least one team member to participate in the designated bootcamps (feasibility, prototyping, readiness) and pitch sessions (selection of best10, selection of best5) to receive the funding. We also require that you meet your milestones and show commitment to the program throughout its duration.

Can I apply as an individual person?

Individuals can participate in the program as long as they are part of an innovation team. Great opportunity to find or form your project team is to participate at the Health Hack: Digital Health Nation, 17 – 26 April, 2024.
However, only legal entities are eligible for funding, and individuals cannot claim expenses directly from the program. If you have an idea but are not yet incorporated as a legal entity, you can contact DayOne  yana.yoncheva@baselarea.swiss  or attend one of our program events to learn how we can support you in the process.

How can I find my partner?

If you’re looking for partners to form an innovation team for your idea, we’re here to help. Great opportunity is to participate at the Health Hack: Digital Health Nation, 17 – 26 April, 2024 and find new partners there. You can also join our other events or contact our program manager  yana.yoncheva@baselarea.swiss  to connect with potential partners and explore your idea.

How does the selection process work?

1. Every year, we will have an active call for applications (in 2024, it will be from 11 April to 31 May). During this time, all applications received will be reviewed. Application form takes about an hour to complete.
2. Our panel of experts will assess each eligible application based on its innovation level, feasibility and potential impact on the Swiss economy and society, among other criteria aligned with the annual priorities.
3. The 20 selected ideas will be notified by email at the end of the selection process (June 2024) to confirm their participation in the program.

Optional: Express your interest to stay updated about upcoming open calls and opportunities in DayOne Accelerator program by filling out the form on our website, which is available year-round.
Follow this link:  Apply – Day One

If your idea is selected.

Once selected, you’ll receive an invitation to sign the program agreement, which includes funding limits and conditions, requirements and benefits, as well as details about the innovation team members.

How do the different phases of the program work?

The program will run in 3 stages, with two selection points:​​
Stage 1. Feasibility – 20 ideas will get CHF 3,000 and participate in a 2-day feasibility bootcamp (26-27 June, 2024)
Stage 2. Prototyping – 10 ideas will get up to CHF 10,000 for their idea plus CHF 5,000 for coaching and participate in a 2-day prototyping bootcamp (4-5 September, 2024)
Stage 3. Readiness & Go to market – 5 ideas will receive special prizes and CHF 4500 for further testing and validation of go to market and readiness, participate in a readiness bootcamp (7 November, 2024) and be invited to the final pitching event (21 November, 2024)

The ideas are selected in pitch sessions by the evaluation committee at the end of each phase.

What are the key dates for the 2024 program?

11 April to 31 May – Open call for applications  
11 June – Confirmation of ideas selected  
2627 June, onsite Feasibility bootcamp, Basel 
28 August – onsite selection of Best10, Basel 
3 – 4 September Onsite Prototyping bootcamp, Basel 
22 October Selection of Best5, virtual 
7 NovemberOnsite Readiness bootcamp, Basel 
21 November Onsite pitching event, Basel 

In case we receive funding, for which activities can it be used?

The Innovation Booster supports selected innovation teams with dedicated innovation team funding. ​​Innovation teams can use this support exclusively for necessary expenses connected to the exploration of their idea for a radical solution.  ​​

Eligible expenses can include expenses for: ​

  • feasibility, user or market studies
  • the development of explorative models and prototypes to illustrate innovation ideas and test potential solutions
  •  the methodological support provided to the innovation teams by specialists, for example using design thinking methods

How can I be informed of all the news?

Follow our LinkedIn page to be informed of the news about this program.

Talk to our expert

Yana Yoncheva

Manager Innovation Projects, DayOne / Lead, Digital Health Nation IB

Email YanaLinkedInTwitter