INDEX Foreword Wim Dries Activities 02 Activities in the spotlight - Innovation Station - Speeddate - ESOT Hackathon - Disney workshop - Antwerp supports - BlueConnect in Genk - Hack4Health in Ghent - The 5th Table - HealthTech entrepreneur cafe in Ghent Fairs - VICO3 - Inspire Health & Care 03-26 04-20 04-07 08-09 10 11 12 13-14 15-18 19 20 21-22 21 22 Livestreams BHIC ecosysteem on Canal Z Health RampUp BlueHealth Innovation Fund - KWARTS - ClickCare - TelePHON.digital - SpineWise - BloomUp BHIC Team Partners Financials 23-24 25-26 27-28 29-34 30 31 32 33 34 35 36-37 38
FOREWORD Where 2020 was the year of Covid, 2021 was the year of transition. Whether we call it the new normal or the never-normal, something has changed. We still live in a hybrid world, and that will probably be the case for a while. But if there’s one thing that’s become clear during the whole pandemic, it’s the importance of digitization. The role that digital solutions have played during the Covid crisis cannot be overestimated. Healthcare institutions had to switch at lightning speed, tele-consultations became the rule and data became the source on which to base decisions. And that’s a good evolution if you ask us. At BlueHealth Innovation Center, we look to the future with hope. One in which digital has become absolutely the norm, and where young entrepreneurship ensures that new things are tried out, problems are tackled and there is more cooperation. That is a role that we as an ecosystem would very much like to take on. But first we look back in this annual report on 2021, and then look ahead. Because 2022 is the year in which we exist for 10 years. And we will celebrate that appropriately. So mark your calendar for November 29, 2022, because then we will look back on 10 years of the BlueHealth Innovation Center. And of course we’ll raise our glasses. To your health! Wim Dries Chairman of the Board of Directors BHIC vzw 02
ACTIVITIES TOTAL: 50 activities 1.393 participants Of which 204 students TYPE OF ACTIVITIES INSPIRATION SESSIONS PARTICIPANTS BUSINESS TRAININGS PARTICIPANTS IDEATION SESSIONS PARTICIPANTS ACTIVITIES IN 2021 number 19 437 12 535 19 421 03
ACTIVITIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT INNOVATION STATION During an Innovation Station you will have a maximum of 12 hours to look for a new concept and business model based on challenges. In 2021, we were happy to organize four Innovation Stations. INNOVATION STATION GOES VIRTUAL COMING UP WITH NEW IDEAS ABOUT PERSONAL WELFARE FINANCING With UCLL Research & Expertise and the Flemish Welfare Association. Five teams consisting of students and professionals have thought about new concepts and services around personal welfare financing. The winning team had pitched a ‘special challenge platform’ where care recipients and providers find each other. The platform is also accessible to recreational providers so that they can easily find their way to people with disabilities. During an online innovation camp, we use various tools to stimulate the innovative thought process. 04
HELPING TO BUILD THE CARE BOULEVARD OF ZNA CADIX With ZNA, City of Antwerp and TAKEOFFANTWERP. During this Innovation Station we searched for new, fresh ideas for filling in the innovative zone of the Care Boulevard of the brand new ZNA Cadix hospital. After a day of brainstorming and creative thinking, the participants presented their ideas to a jury that praised the results. 05
INNOVATION STATION INNOVATIEDAG DIABETES TYPE 1 With KU Leuven. How can we improve the quality of life of people with diabetes? This question was the focus of attention on November 13 in Leuven. During a whole day, teams came up with innovative solutions for challenges around Type 1 Diabetes. https://youtu.be/6yfUnfEHNuI 06
DEVELOPING GAMES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES With Sint Oda, PXL Hogeschool and LUCA School of Arts. In November, the Sint Oda Service Centre organised a three-day hackathon to develop games for people with disabilities. Students from Hogeschool PXL and LUCA School of Arts helped develop the games. The idea of the hackathon arose when a father asked if students could build apps for his son with a disability and for Sint Oda. After all, there was nothing on the market that was completely tailored to people with disabilities. It was nice to see that such a question could move so many people. Thank you to the organization that we were able to support this. 07
SPEEDDATE ONLINE SPEEDDATE On March 18, we organized the second online edition of our speed date together with Conversation Starter. The concept is already known and with a snack and drink, the conversations went very well again. With 74 participants and 221 planned meetings, we can once again speak of a successful edition. 08
SPEEDDATE IN GHENT We were lucky to bring our partners and start-ups together for our wellknown matchmaking event on September 15 at a beautiful location ‘Red Loft’ in Ghent. Our well-known matchmaking event between partners and start-ups is enjoyed by everyone. Starters can test ideas, ask for feedback and make appointments. After two online editions of the speeddate, it was so valuable to meet again in person. In the afternoon, we first organized two start-up pitches. Ibis. ai and Nutrinomics presented their solution and received valuable feedback from our partners. Next we brought start-ups and BHIC-experts together for our speeddate followed with a BBQ. Have a nice chat in the beautiful garden of Red Loft in Ghent. 09
INTERNATIONAL ESOT HACKATHON DURING THE SUMMER PERIOD We are proud to have been able to support the ESOT Hackathon during the summer period. This hackathon was an open innovation program to develop new concepts with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of people with an organ transplant. The hackathon was organised from June 22 to September 28 and was conducted entirely online. 10
DISNEY WORKSHOP FOR EXPERTS FROM UCLL RESEARCH AND EXPERTISE ON THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE The Disney mindset = never look critically at your idea, only at your action plan. On September 6, we delivered a Disney workshop for experts from UCLL Research & Expertise on the future of healthcare. Thinking creatively, brainstorming, breaking free from what you think it will be… and even tinkering. An innovative morning that resulted in many fresh, fun ideas. This workshop took place in Leuven. 11
THE CITY OF ANTWERP SUPPORTS INNOVATIVE COMPANIES TO GROW In 2021, the city of Antwerp launched a call for innovative solutions to companies in the context of the digital, circular, creative or health economy. A jury selected eight cases that together received EUR 500,000 to get started. Congratulations to Minze Health and Salvus Health, two HealthTech companies received awards. Minze Health is developing an automated urination diary for patients with urological problems. With the health platform of Salvus Health, people can measure medical information themselves in the pharmacy. Two HealthTech companies Minze Health and Salvus Health were selected by the City of Antwerp for financial support. With the health platform of Salvus Health, people can measure medical information themselves in the pharmacy. Minze Health is developing an automated urination diary for patients with urological problems. 12
BLUECONNECT WITH LIEVE BLANCQUAERT IN GENK After a corona break of 20 months, we organized another BlueConnect in the Cultural Center of C-mine in Genk on October 6. For this special evening we had invited photographer Lieve Blancquaert. She brought us a unique story about people and the world. She returned to the essence of life and touched us with her photos and stories. https://youtu.be/oW2Kze98Wys 13
BlueConnect in Genk with Lieve Blancquaert with 140 participants. 14
HACK4HEALTH SOLD OUT FROM IDEA TO PROTOTYPE 68 hackers – 48 hours – 4 challenges After almost two years of postponement due to corona, Hack4Health took place in Flanders Expo in Ghent during the weekend of 22 to 24 October. There was a lot of interest in the concept since the hackathon was already sold out about 10 days before the start. The aim of Hack4Health: to stimulate innovation & digitization in healthcare and to activate entrepreneurship. Sofie Bracke, alderman for economy of the City of Ghent, welcomed all participants on Friday evening and gave the starting signal for a great weekend. https://youtu.be/uDXCt7yNQRQ 15
“ There is no shortage of ideas. The challenge was to come up with concrete solutions, build a prototype and draw up a businessplan in a short period of time. “ Tom Braekeleirs, CEO BlueHealth Innovation Center 68 hackers took up the challenge. They were accompanied by 40 coaches throughout the weekend. On Friday evening, no less than 26 ideas were pitched to the participants of Hack4Health. The 11 concepts with the most potential were selected by the teams to get started. During the weekend, the teams were accompanied by about 40 coaches in different fields. Hack4Health was an initiative of BlueHealth Innovation Center with support from Johnson & Johnson, Health & Care, Microsoft, in4care, Sanofi, Proximus, EIT Health and Flanders.HealthTech. 16
The hackers were challenged by 4 challenge owners: Hack the Hospital – challenge owner UZ Ghent Hack the Pathway – challenge owner Johnson & Johnson Hack the Silos – challenge owner Sanofi Hack your Lifestyle – challenge owner Proximus The three winners were announced on Sunday evening: The Medgineers: unburdening the patient in the hospital and his family. Vas-y: an algorithm to optimize the care pathway of obesity. Your Health wants to make people aware and motivate them to choose a healthier lifestyle. 1 2 3 17
THE MEDGINEERS WIN HACK4HEALTH The Medgineers were named the big winner on Sunday night by a jury of healthcare and industry professionals. The Medgineers team developed “Naomi,” an application to support the patient in the hospital. But Naomi aims to help not only the patient but also the family who at that time is left with a lot of questions and needs. By providing useful information that is relevant at that moment, they want to mainly unburden the patient and their family. With Naomi, we want to meet a current need. During Hack4Health we worked for 48 hours on a solution that we want to develop further in the coming years,” says Tom Vanacker, coordinating head nurse in intensive care at UZ Gent and co-inventor of Naomi. “ With Naomi, we want to meet a current need. During Hack4Health we worked for 48 hours on a solution that we want to develop further in the coming years. “ Tom Vanacker, coordinating head nurse in intensive care at UZ Gent and co-inventor of Naomi. Nice article in Bloovi about the winning team: Deze Gentse app moet de familie van patiënten in ziekenhuizen ontzorgen: “Er is in onze sector qua digitalisering nog veel ruimte voor verbetering” (bloovi.be) It doesn’t end with a hackathon: The winning team from UZ Gent is now participating in Health RampUp Cohort X to further develop their Naomi app. The Medgineers - The winning team of Hack4Health developed an application to unburden the patient in the hospital. How did we sleep during Hack4Health? Most of the hackers slept in our big indoor campsite in the halls of Flanders Expo. Sweet dreams or not? 18
THE 5TH TABLE ON HEALTH TECH On November 8th, The 5th Table on Health Tech took place. As a strategic partner, we helped shape a strong program where the importance of digital transformation in healthcare was always central. 19
HEALTHTECH ENTREPRENEUR CAFE IN GHENT We closed the year with positive and powerful entrepreneurship. In the HealthTech entrepreneurial cafe in De Krook, we brought together six entrepreneurs in various stages of entrepreneurship. They looked back on their challenges and successes and looked forward to the future with great expectations. It was a fascinating evening with many inspiring testimonials. During the HealthTech entrepreneur cafe, six entrepreneurs talked about their unique and inspirational path. 20
TRADESHOW TRADESHOW EXHIBITIONS IN 2021 VICO3 – QUALITY STAYS AND LIVES An organisation of GZA - ZNA We were given the opportunity from GZA and ZNA to moderate an online round table discussion on entrepreneurship, obstacles and opportunities but most importantly a lever to a more sustainable healthcare system. Joining us at the table were: Mieke Moerman (founder TelePHON.Digital), Ella Ameye (founder Abel.care), Vincent Meurrens (co-founder EPCON) and Hannah Snoeck (staff member innovation and training AZ Klina). Tom made a podcast about this conversation for HealthNerd. Listen to the podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0AJIl6sc7kmHHxAEjnkd9H?si=9c19584c90d44dfd 21
INSPIRE HEALTH & CARE An organisation of Health & Care, In4care and Probis We were guests in the studio at Inspire Health & Care on December 10 at Flanders Expo Ghent. Tom spoke about the role of young HealthTech start-ups in digital transformation in healthcare. #IHC2021 #stayconnect 22
LIVESTREAMS Because of the COVID-19 measures, we started a series of monthly online start-up essentials in 2020. Meanwhile, we have already hosted 21 livestreams with an average of 65 followers per session. These webinars can be revisited via BlueHealthU.care. Wilfried Mertens (Business Unit Manager at ZORGI) and Pieter De Schouwer (lab director at ZNA) talking about digital process support. Value Based Healthcare is the path towards sustainable healthcare systems according to Annick Tourny of Roche Diagnostics Belgium and Olivier De Troyer of Awell Health. We are social: 2.382 23 2.686 5.594 2.066 343
LIVESTREAMS ON DEMAND Already more than 20 livestreams available on demand at BlueHealthU.care BlueHealthU.care 24
CANAL Z BHIC BHIC ECOSYSTEM ON KANAAL Z. 10-PART SERIES ON TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IN HEALTHCARE. From May to July we brought a 10-part series on Kanaal Z about innovations in healthcare. We made this series together with our partner ecosystem and put innovative cases, start-ups and scale-ups in the spotlight. These have become 10 fascinating reports on technological innovations that make our healthcare better, more qualitative and more personal. This series is the result of a collaboration within a strong and unique ecosystem working on the digitalization of our healthcare . A series we are proud of. Episode 1 Epsiode 2 BHIC & U-Sentric: watch here Health RampUp helps young HealthTech entrepreneurs. imec.istart, Abelcare and Telemedi: watch here More start-ups in telemedicine. Episode 3 Episode 4 UCB and Neuroventis: watch here UCB helped Helpilepsy grow into a digital assistant. 25 Stad Antwerpen, Zipster and Salvus Health: watch here The Antwerp ecosystem for innovation in healthcare.
Episode 5 Episode 6 UAntwerpen, Roche Diagnostics and ImmuneWatch: watch here Innovation in diagnostics. INNOCOM, ZNA and GZA: watch here A new EPD for ZNA and GZA Hospital. Episode 7 Episode 8 Mr. Watts: watch here The HoloLens in the medical world. Stad Genk and ZOL: watch here Care innovation in Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg. Episode 9 Episode 10 UZA, AZ Klina and ibis.ai: watch here Artificial intelligence enters the hospital sector. Stad Gent, UZ Gent and imec: watch here Ghent ecosystem as a driver of innovation in healthcare. 26
HEALTH RAMPUP Health RampUp is BlueHealth Innovation Center’s coaching program. In 6 months, we prepare HealthTech start-ups to raise their first seed capital or customers. In the fall of 2021, the ninth cohort of Health RampUp was launched. Nine teams started the program with great enthusiasm. With Health RampUp, we want to give the healthcare sector a digital boost. PilVox Sanco 27
FINAL JURY PITCHING The final pitching to the jury took place in March 2022. This jury pitching is always the final piece - the apotheosis of the program. The start-ups pitch their idea in front of a number of experts from the HealthTech sector and receive immediate feedback. Article in Bloovi about the new batch of HealthTech start-ups and the open call of cohort X.: BHIC stoomt healthtech start-ups klaar voor pre-seed kapitaal: “Je moet geld ophalen in de fase dat je het niet nodig hebt, anders kan het te laat zijn” (bloovi.be) 28
BHIF BLUEHEALTH INNOVATION FUND BlueHealth Innovation Fund has a close collaboration with BlueHealth Innovation Center and imec.istart. The Fund was founded in 2017 by four BHIC partners – UCB, UZA, Cronos Groep and in4care – and invests in several HealthTech startups each year, each of them in an early stage of development. The selection of these startups is done within the open calls of the imec.istart acceleration program. BHIF has 20 HealthTech investments in its portfolio that have also received support from the imec.istart program. The BHIF portfolio companies are active in various domains. Discover the full portfolio here: BlueHealth | BHIC IN 2021, BHIF INVESTED IN FIVE NEW PORTFOLIO COMPANIES KWARTS TELEPHON.DIGITAL CLICKCARE SPINEWISE BLOOMUP If you want to know more about BHIF, contact kim@bhic.care. She is portfolio manager for the fund as well as regional manager for BlueHealth Innovation Center. 29
KWARTS KWARTS HELPS COMPANIES BUILD BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. “ Thanks to BlueHealth we have gained access to an entire ecosystem of healthcare stakeholders, allowing us to quickly test hypotheses “ Ruben De Moor, co-founder KWARTS KWARTS helps commercial teams in Life Science companies to build better relationships with healthcare professionals. Bart and Ruben, founders of KWARTS, are old classmates who developed a product based on the challenges they saw in the market. They designed a platform that maps all communication directed to healthcare professionals (HCP) and gives advice about how each HCP can be best approached. 30
CLICKCARE CLICKCARE LINKS CAREGIVERS TO CARE NEEDS ClickCare links independent healthcare professionals to healthcare organisations so they can get to work immediately. ClickCare is the result of a personal frustration of home care nurse (now co-founder) Hanna. She experienced how helping out in a healthcare organisation for one day was taking too much time and administrative work. Time to improve the process! ClickCare is 100% digital, available 24/7, quick and easy to use. No more endless e-mails, telephone calls and administrative work! WIth ClickCare, care is on its way! “ BlueHealth’s extensive network of partners in healthcare proved to be a big added value for us. By being a part of the network, we are faster and closer to the right people to achieve our goals. “ Hanna Goemans, founder ClickCare 31
TELEPHON.DIGITAL TELEPHON.DIGITAL IS THE FIRST SPEECH THERAPY APP WITH A MEDICAL DEVICE CERTIFICATION. TelePHON.digital is the first medically certified speech therapy app in Belgium. People with speech and swallowing problems can use to app to verify if there is a need for medical treatment. Depending on their needs, they can then start practicing on their own or start therapy with a specialist. The app supports remote therapy with clinical workflows, outcome measurements and interactive video consultations. “ BlueHealth made an essential contribution from the very start, through access to their unique network of experts and the Health RampUp program. Their added value no longer needs to be created, it is simply there. “ Mieke Moerman, founder TelePHON.digital 32
SPINEWISE WEARABLES TO COUNTER BACK AND NECK PAINS. SpineWise is an intelligent wearable that monitors people’s posture and movements in back and shoulders at work. By providing insights in where and when risk situations arise, the company can intervene in a targeted and efficient way to prevent injuries. In addition, the employee receives personalized, real-time feedback via a vibrating signal in the wearable, so that harmful habits are tackled in a sustainable way. “ 33 I got to know BlueHealth during my first steps in entrepreneurship in the Expedition DO! program, where I was allowed to follow a number of interesting workshops from the Health RampUp program. In addition, BHIC’s network is also a great added value, both in finding partners and testing ideas in the market. “ Liesbeth Van Hauwermeiren, founder SpineWise
BLOOMUP BLOOMUP LOWERS THE THRESHOLD TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE. BloomUp matches adults with an online psychologist in a few clicks. The digital platform lowers the threshold for mental support and shortens waiting times. In addition, BloomUp has a specific offer for employers to focus on resilient, productive employees and avoid absenteeism. “ As a start-up, you need partnerships and support. we are glad that we are well surrounded by bluehealth, imec.istart and start it @kbc. “ Ellen Batens, founder BloomUp 34
BHIC TEAM Ilse Robberechts communication & office manager +32 478 33 86 81 ilse@bhic.care MAAK KENNIS MET ONS TEAM! Frederik Horemans regional manager Genk +32 479 76 32 51 frederik@bhic.care Kim Luyckx regional manager Antwerpen +32 475 26 37 83 kim@bhic.care Tom Braekeleirs CEO +32 477 72 92 58 tom@bhic.care Arantxa Wille regional manager Ghent +32 486 99 80 15 arantxa@bhic.care 35
PARTNERS NEW STRUCTURAL PARTNER OF BHIC IN 2021 Ooho Ooho helps international healthtech, medtech and digital health start-ups with their go-to-market strategy. The team is a unique blend of strategic insight and tactical understanding. This new partner can support our young entrepreneurs with their marketing and communication. Thomas Beuls, co-founder and marketing consultant at Ooho is also one of the new coaches in our Health RampUp program. This photo was taken during the General Assembly in Antwerp with some of the structural partners of BHIC where Ooho was presented as a new partner. 36
Thanks to our partners: GOVERNMENT CARE- AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS INDUSTRY 37
FINANCIALS INCOME PROJECT 7% CARE & ACADEMIC 27% GOVERNMENT 18% INDUSTRY 48% ACTIVITIES 17% OPERATION 13% RENT 6% EXPENSES STAFF 64% 38
BHIC Genk C-mine 12, 3600 Genk BHIC Antwerp Lange Gasthuisstraat 29 - 31, 2000 Antwerpen +32 89 201 735 genk@bhic.care +32 475 26 37 83 antwerpen@bhic.care BHIC Ghent M. Makebaplein 1, 9000 Gent +32 486 99 80 15 gent@bhic.care Graphic design: www.skape.be Photography & video: www.movito.be
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