MBioS Challenge: six winners of the Ukraine’s first biomedical startup competition

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The teams of Ukrainian inventors and innovators in the field of medicine, biology, and healthcare presented 97 technological development projects at the stage of idea, pre-seed/prototype, finished product or business model, 12 of which reached the final: five startups at the idea stage, another five – at the prototype stage, and two startups – at the viable business model stage. Six teams became winners of the Ukrainian MBioS Challenge final and now have the opportunity to introduce their projects to British investors during the live Annual Conference of the Ukrainian Medical Association of the UK (UMAUK) on May 12, 2018.

On April 25, 2018 Dr Ulana Suprun, acting Minister of Health of Ukraine, presented awards to the winners of the Ukraine’s first biomedical startup competition final – MbioS Challenge – held at iForum 2018 (Ukraine’s largest IT conference). Dr Ulana Suprun noted that the Ministry of Health is actively supporting and promoting the development of medical innovations ecosystem in Ukraine, as well as quality improvement in medical education. For instance, the Ministry has established the Innovation and Science Department and started cooperation with the Innovation Development Council headed by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, supported development and successful launch of the eHealth service (Ukraine’s electronic health records system).

"Everyday, we are taking steps to improve our health care system, to use advanced knowledge and introduce modern technologies and electronic solutions. Innovation and development play a key role in implementing this transformation. By working together with innovators and inventors, we can provide access to quality and affordable health care to patients, modern working conditions and continuing professional development – to doctors," commented Dr Ulana Suprun.

MUSIC-Med, a mobile ultrasonic surgical instrument developed by researchers from Cherkasy, and Esper Bionics, a bionic hand (upper limb prosthetics) developed by a team of innovators from Kyiv, were announced the idea-phase startup category winners.

The three projects won the best prototype-phase startup awards: adsorbent carbon dressing for treatment of wounds and burns, Helsi.me service for making and managing doctor’s appointments, and Latrax project aimed at using the vagus nerve stimulation for treatment of epilepsy.

QROK MEDICAL project won the viable business model award (a startup at the commercialization stage). The team has developed an innovative navigation system for hospitals allowing for tracking patient’s location, monitoring body temperature, and activity. Into-Sana Clinic in Odesa already uses this system.

The key aim of MbioS Challenge, which was held in Ukraine for the first time, is to promote the development of innovative solutions and encourage the use of сutting-edge technologies in the field of medicine and biology, namely artificial intelligence, augmented reality, robotics, Internet of things, big data, blockchain, telemedicine, personalized medicine, nanotechnologies, etc.