DCB Open Innovation Challenge: IMS Emerges as Winner with Innovation CGM+
Bern, 4 October 2024 – The start-up Integrated Medical Sensors (IMS) has won first place in the DCB Open Innovation Challenge. The company was honoured with a prize of USD 100,000, including in-kind support, at the DCB Start-up Night at Kursaal Bern.
Incredible 100 ideas were submitted to the DCB Open Innovation Challenge this year. Six finalists from the U.S., the U.K., Switzerland, Spain, and Sweden, pitched their innovations live on stage at Kursaal Bern in front of a big audience and an international jury. This year’s winner, IMS, impressed the jury with a revolutionary, particularly small, and minimally invasive device for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The world’s first fully integrated single-chip device monitors blood glucose using multiple sensors simultaneously and can also record other physiological parameters such as tissue temperature. It is also able to measure various physiological parameters such as glucose and ketones – all with just one device.
We are very proud of the number of start-ups this year and of our collaboration with the Diabetes Technology Society from the U.S.. We are particularly pleased to have received a total of 100 new and innovative ideas from start-ups. Together with the top six start-ups, we look forward to working on our shared mission to improve the lives of people with diabetes”,
says Ema Grabenweger, Innovation Manager DCB and responsible for the Open Innovation Challenge 2024.
A Night of Innovation and Celebration
Incredible 100 ideas were submitted to the DCB Open Innovation Challenge this year. Six finalists from the U.S., the U.K., Switzerland, Spain, and Sweden, pitched their innovations live on stage at Kursaal Bern in front of a big audience and an international jury. This year’s winner, IMS, impressed the jury with a revolutionary, particularly small, and minimally invasive device for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The world’s first fully integrated single-chip device monitors blood glucose using multiple sensors simultaneously and can also record other physiological parameters such as tissue temperature. It is also able to measure various physiological parameters such as glucose and ketones – all with just one device.
We are very proud of our top six finalists mastering their pitches after a successful preparation in the DCB Innovation Bootcamp. They showcased the diversity of innovations on stage, joining us on the journey to make life better for people with diabetes.
“The DCB Open Innovation Challenge is our annual highlight where we promote the best start-ups in diabetes technology. With a wide range of services from DCB and sustainable networks, we look forward to continuing our collaboration with all finalists and achieving great things together“,
says Hanne Ballhausen, Project Manager Innovation and organiser of the DCB Bootcamp.
We extend our gratitude to everyone contributing to the success of the DCB Start-Up Night, on and off stage. The event was supported by mylife Diabetescare, Dexcom, Comerge, the Economic Development Agency of the Canton of Bern, the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, and Diabetes Switzerland.
About the DCB Innovation Challenge
After the initial launch in 2021, the DCB Open Innovation Challenge took place for the fourth time this year. The aim of the challenge is to promote innovative, international projects in the field of diabetes management. It is the largest Innovation Challenge in diabetes technology, awarded with USD 100,000. Applications are open to start-ups, medical and research professionals, and individuals.
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