Viladecans The Style Outlets launches the third edition of the Health Innovation Award, organised in collaboration with IDIBELL through the XarSmart network, whose objective is to promote the transfer to the market and society of high-level innovation projects in the field of medical devices, digital health and advanced therapies.
The call, aimed at healthcare professionals from all innovation centres in Barcelona (province), as well as centres belonging to the XarSmart network throughout Catalonia, will be open from 11 June to 31 October 2024.
This edition comes with an important novelty: the increase in the prize endowment, which becomes 25,000 euros, 10,000 euros more than the previous edition. This amount consists of €15,000 in cash and a €10,000 voucher to invest in the consulting services offered by XarSmart (scientific advice, market analysis, search for potential investors, etc.).
Presentation event
The presentation of the new edition took place today at the facilities of the outlet center in the presence of heads of health and research centers, representatives of the Viladecans City Council ― the deputy mayors Rosa Cañisá, Joana Sánchez and Olga Morales; and Councillor Ramón Espejo ―, and included interventions by María Jesús Montesinos, manager of the outlet centre, Miguel Ángel Souto, Director of Innovation and Business Development of IDIBELL (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute), and Carles Ruiz, Mayor of Viladecans.
At the event, María Jesús Montesinos stressed that the award “is the most important commitment of Viladecans The Style Outlets to generate a real positive impact on the community. The good reception it has obtained motivates us to continue working with even more effort, providing this initiative with more resources that make it easier for these beneficial projects of our doctors and researchers to reach society sooner”.
For his part, Miguel Ángel Souto has stated that “it is an honour to collaborate again with Viladecans The Style Outlets in this initiative. For us, it represents a strategic partner because of its ability to connect with the community and its commitment to social welfare. The increase in the award underlines its commitment to innovation in health, which we hope will contribute to attracting high-level projects and facilitate their rapid transfer to clinical practice.”
To conclude, the mayor addressed the attendees pointing out that “Viladecans supports innovation, not only from the City Council but from civil society, with extraordinary initiatives such as these awards convened by Viladecans Style Outlets or other actions such as those carried out by entities such as Viladecans Solidària. The Innovation in Health awards are one more of the positive actions that, from day one, the outlet has contributed to our city. The company’s commitment to improving the lives of citizens is to be appreciated and this effort to stimulate research in the field of Health is a great example”.
The winner of the second edition: Proyecto Odisea
The winning project, chosen from among three finalists, will be announced at the award ceremony, which will take place in December. In addition, it will be at this event that the progress made by the winner of the previous edition, the ODISEA Project ― developed by the Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Girona (IDIBGI), the University Institute for Research in Primary Care (IDIAP Jordi Gol) and the Josep Trueta University Hospital of Girona ― will be presented, consisting of software that improves the selection of patients and waiting times for the care of patients with acute heart attack myocardium.
III VTSO Health Innovation Award in collaboration with IDIBELL-XarSmart
– Project submission period: from 11 June to 31 October 2024.
– Scope: professionals attached to health or research centres in the province of Barcelona, as well as all those belonging to the XarSmart network throughout Catalonia.
– Research and/or innovation projects in the idea phase with a minimum maturity level TLR 4 and a maximum of 7. The project should be implemented in 2025.
– Economic endowment: €25,000 (€15,000 in cash and a voucher of €10,000 to subcontract services in IDIBELL – XarSmart).
– The terms and conditions of the call can be consulted on the website: https://viladecans.thestyleoutlets.es/es/novedades/premios-vtso
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a biomedical research center created in 2004. It is participated by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Institute of Health, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona and the City Council of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.
IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the “HR Excellence in Research” program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).