Start​-​up funding for diabetes technologies: the DCB Open Innovation Challenge is back!

The DCB Open Innovation Challenge is back! (Video: The finalists of 2021 and the award ceremony)

More than 537 million people worldwide are living with diabetes. For those affected, it is a constant challenge that affects their everyday lives. Technological innovations play an important role in making it easier to cope with diabetes. Examples include innovations such as technologies that make it easier to measure glucose levels, and even apps that let you plan the amount of insulin you need . However, despite these enormous advances in diabetes technology, there is still a great unmet need for innovative technical solutions. All such solutions should be aimed at helping to reduce the everyday challenges that diabetes poses and at achieving lasting improvement in quality of life for people with diabetes.

Two categories: “Diabetes Devices” and “Digital Diabetes”

The first Open Innovation Challenge, which ran in 2021, focused on glucose measurement. The start-up GlucoSet, which developed a glucose measurement system for intensive care units, was named the winner. In this latest Innovation Challenge 2022, there are two categories. One is for medical devices such as insulin pens, insulin pumps or sensors for continuous glucose measurement. The other is for digital solutions such as apps for diabetes management, such as apps for monitoring glucose levels or nutrition, or for connecting with other people with diabetes.

The “Diabetes Devices” category will kick off at the beginning of March 2022 and the “Digital Diabetes” category will open at the beginning of August 2022. After progressing past the first round and receiving feedback from the expert jury, the top 20 companies will join a mentoring program. Later, the top three companies will be invited to an innovation bootcamp that is specifically tailored to their needs. On November 30, 2022, the winning project will be selected by an international jury and rewarded with USD 100,000, along with additional support such as coaching. The second and third place winners will receive USD 60,000 and USD 40,000 respectively. This makes the DCB Open Innovation Challenge one of the world’s most generous international awards in the field of diabetes. Applications are open to start-ups, medical and research professionals, and individuals.

Closing gaps with a translational approach

“At DCB, we want to close the gaps between ideas, clinical trials and start-ups through innovation. One way we pursue this goal is through the DCB Open Innovation Challenge, which connects start-ups, mentors, companies and the international diabetes community. In this way, we can help viable, innovative ideas in diabetes management achieve a breakthrough—not only through funding, but also through targeted support from our partner network,” said Dr. Maren Schinz, who manages the DCB Open Innovation Challenge.