The Grants4Apps (G4A) Accelerator developed by Bayer invites health IT and technology startups to apply for the program's 2016 edition. This year, Bayer looks primarily into projects aimed at fostering patient-doctor feedback in the Women's Health field as well as those improving patient engagement in Cardiology, Oncology, Radiology and Ophthalmology, but Bayer is also interested in highly innovative software, hardware, technologies applied to digital health fields.
The selected 5 start-ups will get free office space for 100 days at Bayer's Pharmaceuticals headquarters in Berlin, where representatives of Bayer senior management will offer them top-level coaching. In addition, Bayer will provide a financial support of 50,000 Euro to each of the startups.
For the third year in a row, the Grants4Apps Accelerator welcomes startups from around the world, whose software services, technologies, and apps have the potential of creating value for physicians and patients. Projects can be submitted by May 31st, 2016.
"Since 2014, IT and technology passionates from all over the world, with a focus on health projects, are invited to apply for what might become their biggest development opportunity. We are more than proud of the project's echo, especially at a local level, with Bucharest being the 2nd city in overall submissions in 2015. Furthermore, Romania ranked 6th in terms of number of submissions received from all over the world, which is outstanding. We are confident that the 2016 edition will suscitate at least as much interest and local bright ideas will improve people's lives," said Ruxandra Pirojoc, Head of Communications for Bayer Romania and Bulgaria.
"At Bayer, we strongly believe in the power of the local community - Scientists, Technologists, Engineers, and Mathematicians in Bucharest, working or willing to work on projects regarding digital health and digital farming. This is why we have established a group on meetup.com, aimed at fostering innitiave and cooperation between professionals, while also serving as a networking and discussions platform. It is a local innitiave matching Bayer’s vision of open innovation and global cooperation," added George Nancu, IT Specialist at Bayer Romania.
In June, an expert jury from Bayer will select the five winners who will be invited to spend 3.5 months in the Accelerator on the Bayer Pharmaceuticals headquarters in Berlin from August to December 2016. Aside from the financial support to help developing their business, the startups will be offered free co-working space, mentoring and expert advice on business development, market research, financial planning, and pitching for investors. The goal for the startups in the program is to further develop their product and business model so they can obtain financing from other sources after the program.
Application forms for startups are available at the Grants4Apps website http://www.grants4apps.com/berlin
Bayer fully embraces new approaches of open innovation, such as the "CoLaborator" or crowdsourcing initiatives like "Grants4Targets", "Grants4Indications", "Grants4Apps" and "PartnerYourAntibodies".
Bayer: Science for a Better Life
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech polymer materials. As an innovation company, it sets trends in research-intensive areas. Bayer's products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2015, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of EUR 46.3 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.6 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.3 billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015.