The Novartis Biome HealthHub 21 Challenge in collaboration with KQ Labs and LifeArc

Please note applications for HealthHub21 are now closed.

Why a HealthHub 21 Challenge?

The NHS and its partners are facing unprecedented challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and need to further accelerate their digital transformation at a pace never seen before. Following the success of our 2020 HealthHub, we are now launching the Novartis Biome HealthHub 21 Challenge. 

This year Novartis is excited to announce a new collaboration with KQ Labs, the data-driven health accelerator of the Francis Crick Institute, and LifeArc, the charity helping turn promising science into benefits for patients. 

Together Novartis, KQ Labs, and LifeArc have a shared commitment to supporting the data-driven health ecosystem in the UK, and are launching the HealthHub 21 Challenge to foster collaboration in digital health and support the NHS to transform patient pathways.

How will selected companies benefit from HealthHub 21?

The selected companies will have the unique opportunity to benefit from:

Resources, expertise and opportunities with Novartis

• Access to coaching & mentoring with Novartis experts from functions such as marketing, commercial, market access strategy, health economics and medical affairs
• Proof of concept testing opportunities, with our partners in the health ecosystem
• Access to the Novartis UK Biome’s enablement network from across a variety of industries

Mentoring opportunities from the KQ Labs data-driven health accelerator team and expert network

• Mentoring sessions with the KQ Labs team
• Access to the KQ Labs’ data-driven health network

Investment 

• Funding from LifeArc in the form of a Convertible Loan for £50,000

What are we looking for?

We are searching for companies who can help accelerate and scale digital health solutions that will support the NHS to digitise the patient journey and advance the remote care agenda. In particular, we are looking for:

Companies with innovative solutions that apply to one of the following therapeutic areas:

• Cardiovascular
• Ophthalmology
• Dermatology
• Rheumatology
• Neuroscience
• Gene Therapy
• Oncology (Solid tumours: Breast, Melanoma, Lung/Haematology: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CLM), Myelofibrosis (MF), targeted radioligand therapy)

Companies who have:

• A working product for their Potential Solution at the time of application, at least in beta stage
• Two or more co-founders or staff
• A team based in the UK 
• The company's legal entity must be UK based
• Any stage from pre-seed to Series B

Key dates for the HealthHub 21 Challenge:

Application deadline: 25 May 2021

• Applications are now closed

Pitch day: 23 June 2021

• Selected finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their solutions to a panel of experts from Novartis, KQ Labs, LifeArc and the NHS (non-public)

Final winner announcement: 7 July 2021

• The selected winners will be announced on 7 July.

Please note, we are no longer accepting applications to the HealthHub 21 Challenge. For any other enquiries please contact us at [email protected]

London, UK. April 21, 2021 - Novartis UK has launched the Novartis BIOME UK HealthHub 21 Challenge, in collaboration with KQ Labs, the data-driven health accelerator of the Francis Crick Institute, and LifeArc, the charity helping to turn promising science into benefits for patients.
Read the full media release

Please note: The Novartis Biome HealthHub 21 is a Challenge which is distinct and complementary to the KQ Labs core data-driven health Accelerator Programme.