MedTech Odense
MedTech Odense identifies pioneering project and opens for first calls
MedTech Odense is ready to distribute funds to researchers and clinicians. The funds are awarded to research and innovation projects with the potential to create the patient treatments of the future with new health technology.
The first pioneering project has just been appointed under the auspices of MedTech Odense – the strategic partnership between SDU, the Region of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital (OUH) and the Region’s other hospitals as well as the City of Odense. The grant has gone to the interdisciplinary project DANARC, which will develop a robot that can scan for and diagnose cardiovascular diseases – and, following further development, can potentially scan other organs, too. The project involves both cardiologists and experts in robotics, data science, health economics, ethics, interaction design and psychology. DANARC has previously received an impressive international assessment in OUH and SDU’s flagship competition and has since also been assessed by MedTech Odense’s steering committee.
Read more about the grant and the pioneering project in the news section at medtechodense.dk (only in danish)
Apply for funding from MedTech Odense
This summer, the first calls for applications for funding from MedTech Odense will open. It is expected that a total of DKK 6 million will be distributed in 2025 among two types of calls: ‘Ideas’ and ‘Concept’. The application process is expected to open at the end of June with a deadline of September 2025.
MedTech Odense has recently been working on a proposal for a programme for the type of funds that can be applied for. This proposal takes into account input from previous dialogue meetings at SDU departments and info meetings at OUH. The steering committee has just approved the basic principles behind it. Initially, employees from SDU and in the Region of Southern Denmark can apply for funding for ‘Ideas’ and ‘Concept’ – hopefully with the prospect of collaborating with relevant businesses/partners so that the solutions can take off.
Special emphasis will be placed on what kind of clinical need or challenge in the healthcare system applicants want to contribute to the solution of, the level of research and innovation and, not least, the implementation and scaling potential, which is a key part of the main ambitions of MedTech Odense. In particular, the funds earmarked for ‘Concept’ also place emphasis on the level of ambition and plans for attracting external funding targeted at research and innovation collaboration.
More information about the application process and criteria will be announced mid-June on SDU’s and OUH’s respective intranets.
More to come
In the long term, the plan is that MedTech Odense will also distribute funds for both ‘Validation’ and ‘Implementation’, in addition to grants for a few pioneering projects that can embrace the ambition of developing, commercialising, implementing and scaling new health technologies that can be broadly utilised in the healthcare system.
In 2025, a total of DKK 20 million has been allocated from SDU and the Region of Southern Denmark, with the expectation of more in the years ahead.
Facts about the two types of calls
Ideas
The funds are earmarked to create a growth layer of ideas and collaborations in MedTech Odense and to initiate new research and innovation collaborations. Collaboration that, during the early phase, must be conceptualised, clarified in terms of requirements and pressure tested against one or more clinical needs as well as evaluated for their potential to be implemented and commercialised. Examples of ‘Idea’ activities may include activities for the purpose of knowledge sharing, idea development and data collection, dialogue and involvement of other academic areas, experts and partners, early exploration of e.g. regulations, development processes, etc. Financial framework: Up to DKK 150,000 per application.
Concept
Must contribute to the further development of ongoing research and innovation projects that are ready for the next step in their maturity. Projects where solutions and knowledge are ready to be tested, demonstrated and evaluated in relevant, real-life environments. Examples of ‘Concept’ activities may include the purchase of e.g. relevant skills, knowledge, materials, software, resources, mentors, development of business cases, suitability studies, commercialisation potential and value creation. Financial framework: Up to DKK 400,000 per application.