Pfizer announced today that it is receiving applications for its Pfizer Healthcare Hub: London competitive grant. This is the second time that Pfizer has held the startup-focused program, which representatives from biopharmaceutical company said had a strong inaugural year in 2017.
“Following the success of the 2017 UK Hub, I’m delighted to continue the program again this year,” Erik Nordkamp, managing director of Pfizer UK, said in a statement. “We’re seeing remarkable innovation in healthcare here in the UK, with technology rapidly maturing to meet the needs of patients and clinicians. Analytics, telemedicine, and consumer facing apps which accommodate multiple conditions are just some of the technological trends impacting health.”
Through the program, Pfizer said it is seeking to foster startups with products or services that are ready for public or healthcare use, and can demonstrate clear benefits to patients or clinicians. Competitors will vie for a year of support from the program and a share of roughly $70,000 dollars (50,000 British pounds). Along with this support, winners will also receive access to Pfizer’s regional partners, including the National Health Service.
“Digital maturity is coming to the NHS and other UK health services in 2018. Technology is being used to explore innovation at every level of the NHS, to help address some of the serious health challenges patient providers face,” Dr. Hamish Graham, manager of Pfizer Healthcare HubL London, said in a statement. “Taking incredible innovations and turning them into practical applications will be vital to help improve the delivery of healthcare for patients while generating efficiencies so health systems can meet the demands for the people they support.”
Winners of the previous year’s grant competition included: Cera, a company that coordinates on-demand in-home care; Echo, maker of a medication management and resupply app that recently raised $9.3 million in additional funding; and GiveVision, which makes a specialized headset that can easily magnify or adjust visuals for those with sight impairments.
