Category: News

EIT Health UKIRL call for ‘Rapid Response’ projects to address COVID-19

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“Rapid Response” Project Requirements 

• Projects should address the COVID-19 outbreak exclusively and have an “innovative” element.

• Rapid implementation of the project is required. The project should be completed, and the funding spent by the end of2020.

• The project should generate an immediate/short-term impact in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic that can be achieved and measured by the end of 2020.

• The project should generate an impact that can be scaled internationally (in Europe and globally). 

• There should be a solid scientific/technological background that should ensure the safety of patients and healthcare providers.

• The project should include elements of Knowledge Triangle Integration (e.g. university-research-business cooperationelement; research to market pathway etc). 

Please note: Vaccine and drug discovery/development are outside of EIT Health’s scope and will not be supported through the “Rapid Response”.

 

Eligibility Requirements 

Projects should:

• Include at least one EIT Health Core or Associate Partner.
• Have partners from at least one CLC/InnoStars. Note: In case of a large number of proposals, preference will be given to proposals that include partners from more than one CLC/InnoStars and have a higher impact on other regions.
•  Observe the regular cost-eligibly rules of EIT-funded projects outlined in H2020 AGA.
• Observe the regular co-funding rules for “for-profit” EIT Health partners (bring at least 30% co-funding).
• External Project Partners need to be registered in one of the EU Member States or countries associated with Horizon 2020 to be eligible for the EIT funding.
• Maximum funding per project is €600,000.
Please note: 

• KCA contribution and additional co-funding will be appreciated.

• No financial contribution to EIT Health sustainability is required for the “Rapid Response” projects.

How to apply 

•On-going projects that have the potential and interest to make adaptations to current work plans for rapid response are invited to first contact their respective CLC/InnoStars Directors for consultation and, if approved, submit their proposal through the online submission platform.

•Proposals for new ideas can be submitted directly through the online submission platform.

Please submit proposals through the submission platform by 8 April 2020, 16.00 CET. 

We expect granting decisions on first projects by 15 April 2020 (others may follow as more budget becomes available).

 

HIHI Education – programmes update

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HIHI Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Innovation

The HIHI/TCD Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Innovation is unaffected and will continue delivering online.  If you need more information, please contact the Course Coordinator: Michelle Armstrong – michelle.armstrong@tcd.ie.

Entering its second year, the Postgraduate is now open for applications for the 2020/21 cohort. There are a limited number of scholarships available to HSE staff. More here.

HIHI Innovation Workshops

The final HIHI Workshop in the series, is postponed for now, due to the current health situation. Many of the attendees are working directly in this situation. HIHI is keen that each should have the opportunity to complete the HIHI workshop series. As a result, Workshop 5 – the presentation workshop, is postponed until further notice.

If you have any questions in the meantime: galvinei@tcd.ie

COVID-19 Rapid Response Funding Calls from Government agencies

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Research and Innovation, in health, academia and industry, have a significant role to play in the national and global response to COVID-19. Consequently, the Government’s main research and innovation agencies have developed a coordinated Rapid Response Research and Innovation programme to help mitigate and manage the COVID-19 pandemic by unlocking the potential of Irish based researchers and innovators to join the global efforts.

This coordinated response is comprised of two complementary strands. Having two focus areas allows for sufficient specialisation and coordination while optimising available resources.

  • The first focus area targets medical countermeasures, health service readiness, and social and policy countermeasures to COVID-19. This is led by The Heath Research Board and the Irish Research Council. Details of the call can be found here.
  • The second focus area is an agile and adaptive initiative to combine the capabilities of industry and academia in the development of innovative solutions that can have a rapid demonstrable impact on the current COVID-19 crisis in Ireland. This is led by Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland and details of the call can be found here.

The agencies will work in partnership to coordinate applications and ensure a seamless and agile review and funding process, with the progress and results from each stream shared broadly. As the calls operate under a single programme, applications will be aligned by the agencies to the most appropriate call.

In dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, pace is critical and research funders around the globe have mobilised rapidly to provide a range of opportunities for researchers and innovative companies. The Rapid Response Research and Innovation funding proposal is an invitation to researchers and innovators in Ireland to support the efforts to reduce the impact of COVID-19.

HIHI 2019 call pitches – postponed

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Health Innovation Hub Ireland launched its third annual open and focused call last December, which ran until the end of January. As with every year, the next stage for successful applicants is pitching to a panel of clinical experts and stakeholders. The panel assess each product prior to  final applicants progressing to pilot and validation stage.

Due to the current health situation  all companies progressing to the second stage have been informed that pitching has been postponed. HIHI looks forward to sharing revised dates, when in a position to do so.

In the meantime, the HIHI Covid-19 Solutions Portal is open – here. Healthcare businesses should submit ‘ready to implement’ solutions, both urgent and longer term, to the portal. HIHI will endeavor to make it available to those who need it.

For further information or any questions: info@hih.ie

Enterprise Ireland Competitive Start Fund (CSF) opens

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CSF call.63 – all sectors, is open from March 24th – April 14th. The purpose of the fund is to accelerate the growth of start-up companies that have the capacity to succeed in global markets. The fund is designed to enable those companies to reach key technical and commercial milestones.

Assessments are undertaken on the applications submitted, it is important to note that the greater the progress the applicant has undertaken towards generating sustainable revenues the stronger the application. Applications from projects that are at idea, concept or design stage may be considered to require further development before applying for the competitive start fund.

To see if you’re eligible to apply for the fund please review here.

Dublin BIC – online workshop on CSF requirements:

Dublin BIC are hosting a half day workshop via zoom on April 7th from 10am until 2pm. If you want to gain a deeper understanding of Enterprise Ireland’s requirements to the CSF process and increase your chances for a success application, make sure you secure your place today via this link here.

HIHI COVID-19 Portal – submit your solutions now!

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HIHI  working with EI to  support our healthcare system against COVID-19

HIHI COVID-19 Solutions Portal – submit your ready to implement solutions to our database and working with Enterprise Ireland, we’ll endeavour to make it available to those who need it.

We are in unprecedented times, the normal process and order that has informed our days up to now has completely changed.
At HIHI, our function is to connect innovative businesses with healthcare, providing them with access to our healthcare experts, end-users and sometimes patients to test and pilot their products. We always do this while considering the needs of the healthcare system. Now more than ever our healthcare system has NEEDS. Now more than ever we need to act fast to address those needs. Over the past few weeks we at HIHI have been overwhelmed with calls and emails from innovators, companies and experts offering their support.
Our HSE staff and wider healthcare teams are focussing on patients and public health and they don’t have the time to review every offer. To assist with this we are creating a resource for them and for other entities in Ireland in their fight against this pandemic. We are working with Enterprise Ireland to help our healthcare system meet the demands of the pandemic. We want to capture all your products, services and expertise in one location so that it can be reviewed by those who are looking for solutions, both urgent and longer term.

The HIHI COVID-19 Solutions Portal is live on our website, here we will capture all these solutions in one location and make it available to our government agencies.

What do you need to do?
If you have a solution, product or expertise that is directly related or may have an impact on COVID-19 abatement, please go to www.hih.ie and follow the Covid-19 link. Simply complete the easy to fill form and submit it.

What will we do with this information?
HIHI working with Enterprise Ireland and partners will try to direct your information to wherever it is needed. We will make the information available to the relevant government entities. We may be back in touch with you for further information. We cannot guarantee that your information will match a need or be used, but this database will capture as many solutions as possible, some may be needed now, some at a later stage.

Ní neart go cur le chéile

Government supports for business in response to COVID-19

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From the Department of Business Innovation and Enterprise (DBEI) here are some practical steps you can take:

  1. Talk to your bank

All the banks have announced that they will offer flexibility to their customers, and they may be able to provide payment holidays or emergency working capital facilities.

  1. Take immediate steps to manage your cashflows

Look for scope to:

  • Lower variable costs
  • Delay discretionary spend
  • Extend your payables
  • Expedite your receivables
  • Explore supply chain financing options
  1. Use available government supports for working capital
  • The Credit Guarantee Scheme supports loans up to €1 million for periods of up to 7 years. Applications can be made to AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank. Eligibility criteria apply.
  • Microenterprises can access COVID-19 loans of up to €50,000 from MicroFinance Ireland. The terms include a six months interest free and repayment free moratorium, with the loan to then be repaid over the remaining 30 months of the 36-month loan period. Loans are available at an interest rate of between 6.8% and 7.8%. Businesses can apply through their Local Enterprise Office or directly at microfinanceireland.ie. Eligibility criteria apply.
  • The €200m SBCI COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme for eligible businesses will be available within the next week. Maximum loan size will be €1.5 million (first €500,000 unsecured) and the maximum interest rate will be 4%. Applications can be made through the SBCI website at sbci.gov.ie. Eligibility criteria apply.
  • A €200m Package for Enterprise Supports including a Rescue and Restructuring Scheme is available through Enterprise Ireland for vulnerable but viable firms that need to restructure or transform their business.
  1. Get advice

Get advice from your accountant or use the advisory support available from your local LEO.

  1. Check your insurance cover

Check if your insurance policy covers you for an interruption in your business, or a temporary business closure, caused by COVID-19.

  1. Engage with Revenue

If you have concerns about your ability to pay your tax liabilities speak to the Revenue Commissioners, who have advised:
“On an on-going basis, Revenue engages with viable businesses experiencing temporary cash flow or trading difficulties that affect the timely payment of tax. Revenue works very successfully with businesses that engage early to resolve their tax payment difficulties. Revenue will engage with any viable business that experiences temporary cashflow difficulties, including difficulties arising from exceptional circumstances such as the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.” See www.revenue.ie.

Revenue has also posted advice for businesses experiencing trading difficulties as a result of COVID-19. This includes information on tax returns, the application of late payment interest, debt enforcement, tax clearance and customs.

  1. Be aware of government supports
  • Employees of businesses that need to reduce hours or days worked can avail of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Short-time Work Support.
  • The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has introduced a refund scheme for employers. Under an arrangement developed with Revenue, employers who have to temporarily lay-off staff and who are not in a position to make any wage payment to them, are asked to keep their employees on the payroll and pay them an amount of €203 – the equivalent of the COVID-19 Support Payment. When they submit payroll returns to Revenue via their payroll provider, Revenue will refund the employer the €203. Please see COVID-19 Employer Refund Scheme for full details.
  • For those workers who have been laid off without pay, there is no need to visit an Intreo Centre. The DEASP has introduced a new support payment for the self-employed who have lost business and to those who have lost employment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. This support pays a flat rate of €203 per week for a six-week period.
  • The full range of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Local Enterprise Office and Údarás na Gaeltachta grant supports will be available to firms to help with strategies to innovate, diversify markets and supply chains and to improve competitiveness.
  • The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation will provide a joint First Responder support service through the Intreo Offices and development agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland in each region to provide tailored supports for impacted firms, with objective of avoiding mass lay-offs and buying time for firms to work through the short-term disruptions.
  • A Finance in Focus grant of €7,200 will be available to Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta clients that want to access consultancy support to undertake immediate finance reviews.
  • In addition to their current range of business supports to microenterprises, LEOs can also provide business continuity vouchers from €2,500 to assist in preparing any business continuity issues that arise in the current challenging environment. Visit LEOs COVID-19 Business Response for further details.
  • Enterprise Ireland has a number of supports available to help businesses mitigate the impact of Covid-19. Their COVID-19 Business Response Plan outlines the COVID-19 supports available.
  • The Department of Health has prepared COVID-19 guidance for supply chain workers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Applications now open: Our Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Innovation 2020/21. Limited HSE scholarships available

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Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI), partners with Trinity College Dublin to deliver a NFQ Level 9 Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare innovation.Course delivery is blended: online and face to face.

Current students come from the frontline, health policy, pharma and health industries. Entering its second year, the Postgraduate is now open for applications for the 2020/21 cohort. There are a limited number of scholarships available to HSE staff. Applications for scholarship close May 28. General applications close June 30.

This programme is for you if:

  • You are at mid- senior level seeking to maximise your personal impact and influence.
  • You want to master an innovative approach to healthcare specifically, solving challenges with new technologies and methodologies that can transform current practice.

 The Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Innovation delivers:

  • The skills to identify and implement evidence-based innovative leadership practices.
  • A practical understanding of applying new technologies in healthcare.
  • A framework of innovation practices, to shape the direction of your organisation.
  • The role of health economics, quality improvement and the principles of governance in leading effective innovative health services.

The Postgraduate culminates with Modules 7 and 8 focus sing on a practical project comprising two phases. The Course Director will support students to identify and plan, an innovative solution applicable to each participants workplace that will have positive impact in Irish healthcare.

Apply here

Email: galvinei@tcd.ie