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June 15, 2022
Dear member,
Last week, we celebrated innovation wins at our Health Innovators’ Meetup. We discussed how impactful innovation awards are for maintaining the motivation and positivity of the innovators and the employees of early-stage startups. We debated on how the ecosystem was moving towards celebrating these awards but how we needed to do more to make a larger impact. We heard opinions about how entrepreneurs survive by "plugging holes" and helping to create a more robust ecosystem. Finally, we heard how research awards often get the limelight, but to build an innovation culture, we need to celebrate more innovation wins through news, press releases, local media and other public channels.
Great stories that boost our innovation ecosystem also need to be celebrated. I am delighted to inform you that the Health Innovation Hub is in the process of preparing and signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation. Through this MOU, HIH will join API’s portfolio of programs. This exciting partnership will allow us to create more exciting programs and expand our services to meet your needs better. Watch this space for more information, coming soon. As Anka, this week’s Meet Our Community member mentions “Innovation in health means creating and implementing new tools, systems, and products to improve healthcare”. Did we just read her mind?
We are committed to listening to you and acting upon your feedback. Let us know by emailing healthub@ualberta.ca how we might continue to create a more positive impact in the health innovation ecosystem. Thank you for taking the time to read the digest. Please forward to your network to support the momentum in health innovation across Alberta.
Paramita Chaudhuri Basu
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Manager
News from the Hub
Another gathering, and another successful Health Innovator's Meetup
Did someone say innovation awards? They are not celebrated often enough. Our team decided to dive into this topic on June 9 which was a great success!
Nanostics wins Inventures pitch competition
Nanostics won the pitch competition in the “Game-changing Health” stream at Inventures in Calgary on June 3, bringing home a cheque for $10,000.
New Partnership Announcement
We are excited to announce that Health Innovation Hub will enter into a partnership agreement with Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API). Stay tuned for more info.
We have a new member in the community - Decipher MedTech Inc
Decipher is a University of Alberta spinoff company derived from the discovery of a unique biomarker that will shape the future of Myasthenia Gravis diagnostics.
Our Companies are Hiring
Anything. Future Fields is always looking for passionate and talented people to join their team. If you don't see a current job posting that fits but you think you have something great to offer - please apply!
Associate Research Scientist. The candidate will be responsible for performing research on behalf of the company. This will include the design and execution of experiments, and more.
If you are a student looking for jobs and networking opportunities, join our Talent Hub here.
Meet our Community
Co-founder at Ruth Corp.
1. What does health innovation/ innovation in health mean to you?
Innovation in health means creating and implementing new tools, systems, and products to improve healthcare.
2. In your opinion, what is the state of the health innovation ecosystem in Alberta, Canada and globally?
I'm impressed with the health research and innovation out of Alberta. The work done through the Health Innovation Hub accelerator, Amii, Alberta Innovates, the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary, is putting Alberta on the map for health innovation. I'm excited for the research around precision medicine and social determinants of health to continue to be put into practice in Canada and globally.
3. What motivated you to join the Health Innovation Hub?
We've found the support from HIH to be incredibly helpful - from all the grant opportunities that have been introduced to us, to having a physical mailing address to receive our supplies and office space for our interns. We'd love to contribute by sharing information with other companies and sharing various opportunities we come across, on the HIH Slack channel.
4. How would you describe yourself in one sentence?
I'm naturally curious and hopeful about creating a more sustainable future.
5. What is the one thing that you are most excited about right now?
Looking forward to continuing to grow our B2B channel of Ruth as we provide menstrual products in bulk to workplaces, municipalities, and organizations.
Funding & Wage Subsidies
Lab2Market (L2M) Program
Applications for the Lab2Market NSERC Fall 2022 Cohort are now open and close on June 27th! The program offers hands-on support, access to mentors, $15000 in funding, curriculum, and more.
Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF)
The Jobs and Growth Fund provides funding to businesses and organizations to help create more jobs and position Canada for an inclusive recovery and long-term growth.
Grow Your Business Online grant
Eligible businesses will receive a micro-grant of up to $2,400 to help with the costs related to adopting e-commerce and supported by a network of e-commerce advisors. Applications will open on June 27, 2022, for Alberta-based businesses.
Resources & Opportunities
Bioeconomy Pitching, Matchmaking and Networking
You are invited to join the bioeconomy pitching, matchmaking and networking workshop presented by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) in Spain alongside the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, the European Forest Institute and BioeconomyVentures.
Compete now for a free booth at MEDICA’s Start-up Park!
If you are an Alberta startup in the health tech/life sciences sector, you might want to explore this opportunity open to global startups to get a free booth at the Medica Trade Show start-up exhibit in Duesseldorf Nov 14-17, 2022. The application deadline is June 30.
Community News & Events
Biopharmaceutical Symposium
June 21 - 22, 2022 | Calgary & Edmonton Learn from industry experts and network with your peers at our upcoming Biopharmaceutical Symposium hosted by 3M Canada in collaboration with BioAlberta.
The Financial Wake-Up Call
Wednesday, June 22 | 10:30 a.m. MST Learn how to take advantage of the data at your disposal, and learn how to better define your financial objectives and take control of your financial situation.
AI and Medical Devices - Finding the Sweet Spot
Tuesday, June 28 | 11:00 a.m. MST AI is coming to healthcare and will change medical devices. Are you ready? Moshe Safran, CEO of RSIP Vision USA presents: "Adding value to medical devices with AI - case studies from echocardiology and orthopaedics"
CIC Emerging Technology Initiatives: Wearable Robots (Exoskeletons)
Tuesday, July 5 | 4:30 p.m. MST Learn about how the limits in technology, digitalization and robotics are bringing us closer to the future! The construction innovation centre (CIC) at the University of Alberta is pushing the limits in technology while helping innovation and entrepreneurs reach their full potential and develop groundbreaking technologies.
Articles
Innovation Management becomes the reality check that every organization’s strategy needs to survive.
There’s an essential, intangible something in start-ups—an energy, a soul.
Find out more about how venture capital firms work in this article.
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