The WERK1, Plug and Play, and Roche plan to jointly advance the digitalization of healthcare in the future. The first accelerator for digital health launched in the Bavarian capital at the beginning of February.
The aim of the Digital Health Accelerator is to promote innovation, new thinking, and mutual learning between industry and startups. All participants bring different skills to the table: WERK1 offers a suitable working environment with its infrastructure, office space, workshops, lectures, and network. The second cooperation partner, Plug and Play, contributes its extensive business expertise and contacts. Finally, the biotech company Roche, which acts as initiator and main sponsor, is also involved.
“I hope for digital innovation”
Bavarian politicians are also pleased about this cooperation. Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs and Technology Ilse Aigner says:
"With the Digital Health Accelerator, we are strengthening the startup scene in Bavaria. Roche is a competent partner for this. I hope for digital innovation, creative thinking, and an open exchange between industry and startups."
She continues:
"Bavaria is a leading location for the healthcare industry and medical technology. We are also a top address in the field of digitalization and startups. With the accelerator for 'Digital Health,' we are now adding another building block that meaningfully complements our Gründerland.Bayern initiative."
'Batch Zero' starts with five startups
In the first round, the program's 'Batch Zero,' startups will be able to use the WERK1 facilities free of charge until the end of June 2018 to work on their concepts with the help of Roche mentors and WERK1 experts. A total of five startups are participating in the pilot phase, including the Munich-based startup inveox:
• FibriCheck (Belgium), App-based diagnosis and monitoring of cardiac arrhythmias
• StethoMe (Poland), intelligent stethoscope for home diagnosis and telemedicine
• inveox (Germany), fully automated management for the preparation of biopsy samples in the laboratory
• SagivTech (Israel), intelligent digital solutions in pathology
• Medicus.ai (Austria), smart app for the holistic evaluation of laboratory and health data
Change of perspective with impulse effect
Roche also has high hopes for the new Digital Health Accelerator.
"For us as a leading company in the pharmaceutical and diagnostics sectors, the Digital Health Accelerator represents a completely new form of collaboration. The direct exchange with innovative startups enables both sides to change perspectives, from which we expect new impetus – including for the increasing personalization of medications and diagnostics,"
says Dr. Jochen Hurlebaus, Project Manager and Head of Innovation & IP Management of the Centralized and Point of Care Solutions division at Roche Diagnostics GmbH. The department played a leading role in developing the idea for the Digital Health Accelerator and is heavily involved in the implementation of the pilot phase.
