July 17, 2020
- • The international accelerator programme for Digital Health startups extends the deadline to the 31st of July
- • TIM joins the already significant panel of partners of the initiative
- • The Call for Solutions 2020 also introduces a special challenge dedicated to the New Ways of Interaction in the post-COVID-19 era
Milan, 17 July 2020 – Digital health startups still have two weeks to apply for the Open Accelerator Call for Solutions. The deadline to register for the acceleration programme for Life Science startups created by Zcube, Zambon Research Venture, has been extended to the 31st of July.
Now in its fourth edition, Open Accelerator supports Italian and international teams and startups working with digital health within different technological macro-areas: Digital Prevention, Monitoring and Therapeutics; Digital Diagnostics; Virtual Health; Clinical Trials Digitalization.
The 2020 edition is not only dedicated to the most advanced and promising digital solutions for improving patients’ lives, mainly in the therapeutic areas of the central nervous and respiratory systems, but also introduces a special challenge dedicated to COVID-19 and new ways of interaction between healthcare professionals, industry and communities. These new modalities have become necessary during the health emergency but will also be needed in the long term, such as the possibility for patients to receive the care they need directly at home, without having to physically go to the hospital.
This year, TIM has also recently joined the programme’s partners of excellence, alongside the prestigious entities such as Deloitte, Unicredit Start Lab, Premio Marzotto, IQVIA Biotech, Italian Angels for Biotech, Portolano Cavallo, Bird & Bird, Innogest, Evoleen, HUMA, NINA Capital and Lifeseeder.
But how will the most innovative ideas be chosen? Starting from the 31st of July, the Zcube team, supported by a panel of experts, will select the startups that will then move on to the second phase – scheduled between October and November – during which they will participate in an intensive acceleration program lasting four weeks at the OpenZone scientific campus (near Milan).
These startups will receive professional support services such as mentoring and coaching, as well as the access to an international network of entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, venture capitalists, and life science professionals, all for a total programme’s value of approximately €25,000 per participant. Finally, the most promising projects will be awarded with a seed investment of up to €100,000 each in December.
Zcube
Zcube, Zambon's Research Venture company, is actively engaged in innovation and scouting for modern solutions in the Life Sciences, such as drug administration systems, medical devices, biomarkers, diagnostic technologies, digital health and solutions for managing big data. Over the years, Zcube has invested in a number of Venture Capital funds in the Life Sciences sector that develop new business models with a focus on research, rare diseases and the sharing of innovation-driven initiatives. It has also forged partnerships with some of the world's leading universities. As part of its activities, Zcube has created Open Accelerator, its fast track accelerator programme specialising in Life Sciences, and Zcare, its division dedicated to the development of innovative solutions inspired by the principles of Value Based Healthcare, designed to meet the needs of all the stakeholders involved in the healthcare ecosystem, particularly patients and caregivers. Over the years, the importance of this division has steadily grown, leading to the establishment of the newco CareApt. Recognising the importance of innovative technologies and digitalisation in Healthcare, through the activities of Zcube, Zambon complements its pharmaceutical drug offering with modern therapeutic solutions, in order to improve patients' lives.
OpenZone
OpenZone is the science campus dedicated to Health, located just outside Milan. Conceived with the idea of building bridges between different worlds, languages and skills, OpenZone is a place for the exchange of knowledge founded on open innovation. The campus – whose mission is to create value by fostering a dynamic community and facilitating access to expertise and capital, an approach that is unique in the Health sector - currently hosts twenty-seven organisations, including top-tier internationally recognised biotech, pharmaceutical and advanced gene therapy companies. Thanks to a visionary expansion project and a € 60 million investment, OpenZone will double its size and the number of labs by 2021, to cover a surface area of 37,000 sq. m and reach a hosting capacity of up to 1,200 people.
ZCUBE PRESS OFFICE at INC – ISTITUTO NAZIONALE PER LA COMUNICAZIONE
Luca Cipriano – l.cipriano@inc-comunicazione.it - +39 347.6311765
Mariagrazia Martorana - m.martorana@inc-comunicazione.it - +39 333 5761268
Livia Restano – l.restano@inc-comunicazione.it – +39 345 4000009
ZCUBE PRESS OFFICE
Antonio Modola – antonio.modola@zambongroup.com – +39 340 3684645