Seoul Innovation QuickFire Challenge: Healthcare for the New Normal

While the implications of the pandemic are still unfolding, countries across the world are preparing for life in the “New Normal.”

In this period of transition, forward-thinking innovations aiming to address healthcare challenges are needed more than ever. Through disruption, we must leverage data and health technologies to accelerate potentially life-saving ideas aiming to improve patient care through the uncharted times that lay ahead.  

That is why Johnson & Johnson Innovation—JLABS (“JLABS”), in collaboration with Seoul Metropolitan Government (“SMG”), Korea Health Industry Development Institute (“KHIDI”), Janssen Korea Ltd., is launching the Seoul Innovation QuickFire Challenge for Healthcare in the New Normal.

 Up to two innovators with the best ideas aiming to address and enable potential healthcare solutions in the post-COVID era will receive up to KRW150,000,000 (approximately US$125,000[1]) in grant funding, residency at the Seoul Bio Hub, and mentorship and coaching from experts at the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies.

[1] From the KRW150 million grant, each awardee will receive a KRW75 million grant including one-year mandatory residency, which must be used toward the rent and utilities at the Seoul Bio Hub for a year. Estimate based on exchange rate of 0.00083 in June 2020

Areas of Interest

We encourage applications from innovators working on all aspects of health care within the “New Normal.” This includes: 

Specifically, we’re looking for:

• Health technologies including big data, artificial intelligence, and block chain
• E-health platforms that can improve the patient journey, empowering decision making for physicians and leading to better patient outcomes
• Rapid diagnostics for early detection and monitoring of rare diseases – in particular for Pulmonary Hypertension (PH)
• Companion diagnostics for oncology
• Smart systems for vaccine distribution and patient adherence

We are interested in applications seeking to impact: 

• Patient care & shared decision making
• Healthcare related problem solving, including impact that aims to lower cost and improves access to car
• Customized approach for better outcomes

Rewards

Up to KRW 150,000,000 (~ US $125,000)

• One-year residency at the Seoul Bio Hub
• A year of mentorship and coaching from experts in science and commercialization at the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies
• Access to programming & resources from the Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS ecosystem

*From the KRW 150 million grant, each awardee will receive a KRW 75 million grant including one-year mandatory residency, which must be used toward residency at the Seoul Bio Hub for a year.

*South Korean won equals 0.00083 United States Dollar

Why this challenge matters to us

We believe a good idea can come from anywhere, and it’s our goal to find new and innovative technologies that provide solutions to patients from around the world. Working together, we can spark the next great idea that could change the trajectory of health. Seoul, Korea has a robust healthcare innovation ecosystem and Johnson & Johnson is aiming to accelerate breakthroughs through this QuickFire Challenge.