Take Part in the MMHIN Dragon’s Den Competition
We are pleased to launch our first Dragon’s Den-style Competition, and there are two pots of £5,000 prizes available for the winning teams to kick-start their projects.
As per our previous post, with special thanks to UCL Grand Challenges, UCL Translational Research Office (TRO), UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering (IHE), UCL Partners and members of the Royal Free Hospital, we have gathered support to host a Dragon's Den Competition in conjunction to launching our MMHIN Virtual Hub platform (this website)!
The aim of the Dragon's Den competition is to (1) encourage cross-sector healthcare innovation through the use of this platform and (2) seek and provide support for materials and manufacturing-related healthcare innovations projects that when translated can bring true impact to patients.
Competition Details:
We invite cross-sector teams to put forward materials and manufacturing-related innovative ideas and projects that solve current healthcare challenges. Please submit your proposals using this Microsoft Form.
The Prize Package:
- 2 x £5,000
This can be used to support preliminary translational work. Funding can be used for consumables (small equipment items will be considered), travel as part of the research (not for conference attendance), outsourced work (i.e. non-UCL staff work) which can include funding time for the Clinical Partner to be part of the research. The funding cannot be used for academic salaries, studentships, publication costs, training conference attendance and travel, overheads, or estates.
Non-monetary elements:
- 1:1 meeting/consultancy with UCL TRO to discuss specific training that will enable the smooth translation of research (e.g., IP, translational grant writing, conflict of interest)
- Receive specified training from UCL TRO
- Market access training from UCL Partners to support translational gap.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the competition:
- The lead applicants must be Partners of the Network*. They must consist of at least one UCL academic/engineer** and one clinician; having also industry partners is preferable.
- The cross-sector teams must put forward materials and manufacturing-related innovative ideas and projects that can solve current health challenges that have been posted to (by any Partner) and approved by the MMHIN Core Team on the MMHIN Virtual Hub Platform (www.materialsinhealth.org) - under Challenges.
- The project must be completed by 31st December 2022. Note that projects are likely to commence in July.
*If you or any of your team member is not part of the Network, please sign up via our MMHIN Virtual Hub Platform (www.materialsinhealth.org/register) - an MMHIN Core Team member will review your registration to ensure your interest align with the aims of the Network and let you know the outcome within 3 business days.
**An UCL academic/engineer must hold either a tenured position or a fix-term research contract lasting beyond 31st December 2022.
Deadlines:
Please submit this form by: 1st June 2022, 17:00.
We will email shortlisted teams by 8th June 2022.
Shortlisted applicants will be required to deliver a 5-minute pitch*** of their proposal followed by 10 minutes of Q&A to a panel of "Dragons", including members from UCL TRO, UCL IHE, UCL Partners and RFH, at our in-person pitching and networking event at mid-June (exact date TBC), at the Royal Free Hospital (exact venue TBC).
Report to UCL Translational Research Office and UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering: 31st December 2022