This article was originally published here.
RALEIGH – COVID-19 is creating a new set of healthcare challenges to be solved.
Enter a new “virtual incubator” launched by NC State’s ASSIST Center and DHIT Global.
It’s a crowdsourcing platform aiming at advancing ideas supporting personal monitoring and protection at work.
“You don’t have to be an engineer or an entrepreneur. In fact, a clinician might say ‘Hey, this is a problem I am facing daily, help me solve this,’ said Carolin Lehmann, the communications and events coordinator for NC State’s ASSIST Center.
“We want to bring the community together in a virtual environment. After all, COVID19 impacts us all and who knows what ‘the new normal’ will look like.”
Submissions close on July 24.
Shortly after, a judges panel will identify the best ideas and invite selective participants to submit proposals. The judges will then evaluate these proposals and select winners to receive support to move forward.
“Some of our partners, like RioT, will pull them into their acceleration program to further help advance their idea, ASSIST will award an innovation prize and will help with prototyping, and Device Solutions will offer free consulting time,” Lehmann said.
“We believe that through collaboration, we can drive innovation to the next level.”
ASSIST Center is NC State’s engineering research center specializing in wearable self-powered nanotechnologies.
In addition to the virtual incubator, it recently partnered with DHIT Global, a non-profit education and research institute supporting communities through the process of digital health transformation, to host a free bi-weekly webinar series called “COVID-19 United Us All.” It brings together executives and thought leaders from healthcare, life sciences, social sciences, technology, and innovation.