Oxford Science Enterprises Medical Device & Technology Innovation Challenge

Do you have the next breakthrough innovation in medical devices that could change the trajectory of human health?

Advancements in medical device technology are transforming how healthcare is being delivered today and in the future. Increasingly personalised and precision based tools are dramatically improving patient outcomes and clinical efficiency. Cutting edge technologies such as robotic surgery, intelligent implants, minimally invasive devices and next generation AI imaging diagnostics are just a few examples of how technology is augmenting healthcare delivery and improving outcomes for patients across the globe.

What we are looking for

We are interested in groundbreaking ideas, novel technologies or innovative solutions that could be translated into medical technologies, which address clear problems in the healthcare space at scale.

Here we are broadly defining medical technologies as devices, diagnostics, drug delivery platforms or associated enabling tools that can be hardware or software based.

We are open to considering all relevant technologies but would highlight the following areas or themes as being particularly of interest:

• Digitisation of Surgery, using technology to improve surgical performance
• Next Generation technologies to treat structural heart disease
• Minimally invasive tools and procedures to treat coronary artery disease
• Closed-loop and personalised neuromodulation devices
• Brain-computer interfaces
• Innovations in ophthalmology
• AI imaging-based diagnostics

The call is aimed at researchers, academics and students across Oxford University and extending into Culham, Harwell, Oxford University Hospital and the wider Oxford ecosystem.

Awards

Successful applicants will receive a tailored package of support and/or investment that will enable them to understand the commercial potential of their technology and ultimately accelerate a path to co-creation of a spin out company, together with OSE.

This may include:

• Mentorship support from an accomplished serial entrepreneur with experience starting and growing medical device businesses
• Engagement with an OSE Entrepreneur in Residence to help build a business case to support spin out and subsequent investment
• Potential access to OSE’s Exploratory Funding Programme, which provides funds of up to £250k to help make a technology or concept investment ready. These funds could help demonstrate technical feasibility or fund a market gap analysis, business model refining, or IP, regulatory or reimbursement strategy
• Potential gateway to OSE pre-seed or seed investment into a newly formed entity

Application Process

Please complete a short application form using the link below. Applications will be reviewed by our internal advisory panel against the following criteria:

• Clinical need
• Novelty of approach
• Technology feasibility
• Potential market opportunity and
• Likely ease to market (considering the IP, regulatory, and reimbursement environments as well as competitive landscape).

Short-listed applications will be invited to submit a full application and attend a pitch event to present their concept to the advisory panel.

All applications will receive feedback.