Prototyping & PoC service

Health Innovation Zone: Pre-validation programme

Provided by DIGITAL INNOVATION ZONE (DIZ EDIH) · Romania

Service description

The Health Innovation Zone is a specialised pre-validation programme designed to accelerate the market readiness of HealthTech startups. This programme is uniquely crafted to support innovators developing digital health solutions, medical devices, and AI-driven healthcare applications. It addresses the critical needs of early-stage startups by providing a comprehensive pathway from concept validation to regulatory compliance. The programme runs for 6 months and includes three key phases: 1) Pre-Validation & Mentoring: Startups receive tailored mentorship from healthcare experts and regulatory advisors, focusing on product validation, clinical requirements, and go-to-market strategy. 2) Pilot & Use Case Testing: Participants gain exclusive access to pilot environments within our network of medical institutions and Living Labs, enabling real-world testing and feedback from end-users and healthcare professionals. 3) Market Access & Networking: The programme culminates in a Demo Day where startups present their validated solutions to investors, healthcare stakeholders, and strategic partners. Matchmaking sessions facilitate partnerships and international scaling opportunities. Targeted at HealthTech startups at TRL 4-7, the programme is ideal for innovators looking to validate their solutions in real healthcare settings and accelerate regulatory approval. Expected outcomes include validated product-market fit, clinical readiness, and strategic partnerships for scaling. Mode of implementation is hybrid, combining in-person pilot testing and online mentoring sessions. Health Innovation Zone is the only programme in Romania offering structured pre-validation and direct access to pilot use cases (such as public hospitals), making it a vital launchpad for HealthTech innovation.

The cohort starts each year in June, late registration is possible for the EIC beneficiaries until August.

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