Open innovation calls and innovation challenges offer possibilities to solve problems in the market by pairing market leading companies with startups. The collaboration benefits all: the participating startups gain access to vast knowledge and resources of corporates and in turn, the corporates get to test new solutions via the help of startups in an easier and more agile way.
Starting this year, Terkko Health Hub is offering a program to facilitate this collaboration. The Startup–Corporate Collaboration program (SCC) is a five-week innovation challenge, where startup teams have the opportunity to gain knowledge, resources, valuable connections, as well as better tools to develop their businesses.
The Corporate.
This time, presenting the challenge is Roche, the world’s largest biotech company. As a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, Roche is focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalized healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible. With over 90,000 employees worldwide, close to 200 employees in Finland, and a global R&D budget of over 10 billion euro, Roche is focused on doing now what patients need next.
The Startup–Corporate Collaboration program is divided into two tracks.
Track 1: The Challenge
Roche has set a challenge that is to be tackled during this program. How to improve the dialogue and understanding between the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare professionals and hospitals without interfering with clinic’s everyday work? Startups choosing this option need to be able to tackle this matter either with their MVPs or products.
Track 2: Open Call
Startups can also propose their own subjects that they would like to collaborate on with Roche. It can be anything that they think could benefit both parties.
Who is this for?
To qualify for the program, startups need to have at least two people on their teams and be working on their MVPs or have a ready product. Startups accepted to the program should be able to commit to the program for five weeks and present their results at the end. Applying startups should choose either working on the challenge or propose a subject of their own that they would like to collaborate on with Roche.
What to expect and how to apply?
The SCC program kicks off on week 9 with a session, dedicated to the planning of the startups’ individual pilot programs together with Roche. The following four-week time will be set for piloting. The piloting phase culminates into a showcase, where the startup presents their results to Roche and Terkko Health Hub.
Do you want to take part in SCC? Apply already today. The application period is open until 16 February. https://hkithinkco.typeform.com/to/FWYt5o