Bayer, NUS Enterprise launch “Grants4Apps Singapore” for tech innovations
A web-based crowd sourcing initiative, known as “Grants4Apps Singapore”, that calls for innovative health tech solutions in Singapore and across Asia Pacific has been launched by Bayer, a German multinational chemical and pharmaceutical company, and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS). The initiative was launched to improve medication adherence in elderly people with chronic diseases.
The challenge was launched at the Transforming Aging with Health Innovation Forum, officiated by Dr. Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Health, Singapore, and attended by Yoriko Yasukawa, Regional Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Asia Pacific and other stakeholders including healthcare experts, policy makers, innovators, academia, corporations, NGOs and media from across Asia Pacific.
The number of patients in Asia Pacific who are suffering from chronic diseases such as stroke, diabetes and age-related eye diseases is expected to increase significantly as the percentage of people aged 60 and above is set to double from 12% of the population in 2016 to 24% in 2050.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the yearly number of deaths from chronic diseases in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific will continue to be the highest globally, and are projected to increase to 13 million and 14 million respectively in 2030.
While long-term treatment is critical to the management of chronic diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that only 50% of patients adhere to long-term therapies. In the aging population, cognitive decline and polypharmacy (having to take four or more medications) usually lead to poor medication adherence. These result in decreased therapeutic benefits for the patient, frequent physician visits due to the deterioration of their medical condition, increased healthcare expenditure or even over-treatment of a medical condition.
The first challenge of “Grants4Apps Singapore” aims to improve health outcomes in this group of elderly patients by partnering with innovators to discover and design innovative health tech solutions to help them overcome the barriers of medication adherence.
“While innovative medicines can transform the outcomes for these patients, medications are only effective for people who take them. Barriers to medical adherence are complex and varied, influenced by the patient, healthcare provider and healthcare system,” said Claus Zieler, Senior Vice President & Head of Commercial Operations, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Division Asia / Pacific.
“Grants4Apps Singapore” is open to everyone in Singapore and across Asia Pacific, including healthcare professionals, caregivers, scientists, engineers, students, programmers, developers, start-ups and entrepreneurs. The challenge will select three winners who will each receive S$10,000 as financial support and access to mentorships from Bayer, NUS Enterprise and other industry partners, which will support them in advancing their project ideas and digital strategies for innovative technologies for doctors, patients, and consumers in the health sector.
The winners will also be eligible for incubator support from NUS Enterprise; as well as access to the Modern Aging Singapore business accelerator program, organized by ACCESS Health international and NUS Enterprise.
