Last year's top prizewinners were UK Preventative Medicine, a developer of prevention, early detection and chronic condition management products, and BrainControl, an assistive technology that helps people suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis and traumatic injury communicate. This includes people who are in locked-in state.
The competition final takes place in Nice on 2 April 2014.
The competition is sponsored by leading healthcare technology specialists D Health and Alere, as well as entrepreneurial competition founders, YouNoodle.
Dr Steven Dodsworth CEO at D Health, said: "Everyone in the healthcare industry knows what challenges lie ahead - an ageing population, more lifestyle-related ill health and growing constraints on budgets. In a nutshell, there is an increasing demand for services but fewer resources to deliver them.
"In light of this increasing demand across the globe, we need to support the development and commercialisation of e-health services and digital healthcare technology as a whole. We need innovation to support existing healthcare systems by increasing efficiency in established processes (whether administrative or medical), to promote positive health-related behaviour change and to increase the effectiveness of therapeutic processes and procedures.
"The competition is very important as it raises the profile of this vital industry and supports innovation in our small businesses by giving them visibility on the European stage, helping them to showcase their innovations and make new connections."
Competition winners will receive cash prizes as well as a range of support services including membership to the D Health Catalyst, a market accelerator for the development of new digital healthcare products. The top prizewinner will also receive a copy of the company's forthcoming white paper which offers a new strategic view on the digital healthcare market.
For more information about the competition, or to register, please visit:
http://www.ehealthcompetition.eu
Digital Healthcare is a holistic term incorporating telemedicine, telehealth, telecare, E-Health, M-Health, Health IT and Assisted Living. As aging populations, lifestyle related diseases and other social and economic drivers continue to dominate global healthcare systems, digital healthcare is rapidly emerging as a key solution for delivering sustainable health and care for the future.
Based in Moray, Scotland, D Health is a specialist consultancy which provides support services to the global digital healthcare community. Combined, D Health's core team has over 70 years of experience in healthcare as academics, public servants, industry professionals and business leaders. Calling on its industry experience and networks, D Health's expertise lies in its ability to identify funding, provide market intelligence, scope opportunities, design business/service models and broker partnerships.
The D Health Catalyst is a market accelerator programme that aims to work with leading organisation from the UK and Europe to drive rapid development of the digital healthcare market. D Health aims to stimulate interaction and development by ensuring the Catalyst represents a full cross-section of the market, from SMEs and blue chip companies to state providers and investors. By achieving this, Catalyst members can work in true collaboration, giving them new insight whilst reducing risk, thereby providing a competitive edge.