Ottawa: Canada has announced three new challenges from Health Canada – and has invited small businesses to propose new innovative solutions.
Health Canada is calling on Canadian innovators and small businesses to:
- Develop an easy-to-use and affordable tool to help medical professionals rapidly diagnose an infection and identify whether it stems from a virus or bacteria. This new development would help fight infections that are increasingly resistant to treatment and ensure patients receive appropriate care.
- Create a tool that would use artificial intelligence and deep learning to help specialists quickly and effectively match organ donors and compatible recipients, thus improving the success of organ donations and transplants.
- Find a cost-effective way to test mixtures containing micro-organisms to determine the risks they may pose to human health and the environment.
The challenge was launched through the Innovative Solutions Canada program.
Successful small businesses may receive up to $150,000 to refine their research and development and could, if accepted into Phase 2, receive up to $1 million to develop a working prototype.
The government can then act as a first customer, which helps small businesses to commercialize their innovations, scale up their business and create good middle-class jobs across Canada.
“Our government is using its purchasing power to help small businesses innovate and become more competitive,” said Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
Quick Facts
- Program funding comes mainly from the 20 departments and agencies participating in Innovative Solutions Canada.
- Each of the 20 participating departments and agencies will set aside funding that amounts to one percent of its 2015–16 combined procurement and intramural research and development expenditures. Together, the funding from the departments and agencies represents an annual investment of over $100 million over the course of five years.
- In Budget 2018, the Government of Canada announced the consolidation of innovation programs. As part of this exercise, the Build in Canada Innovation Program, managed by Public Services and Procurement Canada, was integrated into Innovative Solutions Canada. Innovators can sign up to receive updates on the Innovative Solutions Canada program.
- There are hundreds of programs and services that offer everything from funding to expert advice to help businesses innovate, create jobs and grow Canada’s economy. Using a simple, story-based user interface, the Innovation Canada platform can match businesses with the most fitting programs and services in about two minutes.