Digital health companies win first Medtronic APAC Innovation Challenge

MedTech News: Two New Zealand-based digital health companies are among the five winners of the inaugural Medtronic APAC Innovation Challenge.

MAIC was launched last year in October as an extension of the Medtronic Open Innovation Platform. It has received over 300 applications from 46 countries, of which 10 companies were shortlisted to compete in a virtual final challenge.

The five winners, including The Clinician and Alimetry from NZ, will have the chance to collaborate with the Irish medical device firm to jointly market products and run commercial pilots for their proposed medical technology or digital health product solutions worth up to $200,000.

“Chronic gastric symptoms are extremely common, yet many of our patients still suffer from repeated inconclusive tests, trial and error care, and confusion” said CEO Greg O’Grady, a Professor of Surgery and co-founder of Alimetry.

“Gastric Alimetry is on track to deliver breakthrough results in diagnosing gastric symptoms, enabling enhanced clinical outcomes and safer, more accessible, and less-invasive care.”

“MAIC provides a unique opportunity for ANZ innovators like Alimetry and The Clinician to tap into Medtronic’s reach in APAC,” said Medtronic Australasia VP and Managing Director Liz Carnabuci.

A spin-off from the University of Auckland, Alimetry develops diagnostic solutions for gastrointestinal disorders, while The Clinician offers a cloud-based platform for the timely exchange of patient-generated data and delivery of multimedia educational materials.