● The sixth edition of Innomakers4Health is seeking 100 new participants to develop a unique solution in 48 hours that addresses the challenge of using technology to effectively combat antibiotic resistance.
● Registration for participants is open until October 3.
● The event will be held at the Telefónica Foundation's 42 Madrid campus on October 18 and 19, where the winners will also be announced.
Wayra, the corporate venture capital arm of Telefónica, Pfizer and the Pfizer Foundation are joining forces to launch the 6th edition of Innomakers4Health, a program where innovation and technology meet healthcare to address the challenges of the health sector, designing solutions and creating prototypes that improve the population's quality of life. Only 100 candidates will be selected to join Innomakers4Health, which will be held on October 18th and 19th at the Telefónica Foundation's 42 Madrid campus. Participants will develop their proposals in groups of 5 or 6 people, with the support of top professionals from Wayra, Pfizer, and the Pfizer Foundation. The profiles sought for this call are: students, professionals with or without experience, entrepreneurs, or startups with an interest in the healthcare sector, with STEAM skills and knowledge of the most disruptive technologies in the current market. We are also looking for people with a background in social sciences and knowledge of market analysis and strategic planning. Candidates can register at the following link: https://bit.ly/Innomakers4Health2024 until October 3rd, inclusive.
The challenge will focus on the use of technology to effectively combat antibiotic resistance (antimicrobial resistance). To ensure all participants start from the same point, the specific challenge will be revealed at the beginning of the first day of the event.
“At Wayra, we are very proud to strengthen our alliance with Pfizer and the Pfizer Foundation as strategic partners in the healthcare sector, making available to them all our knowledge of the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem and the use of the most disruptive technologies on the market. Furthermore, we encourage all interested parties to register for this call for proposals to provide an innovative solution that will revolutionize the healthcare ecosystem, a key pillar for everyone in our society,” says Paloma Castellano, Director of Wayra Spain.
For his part, Sergio Rodríguez, President of the Pfizer Foundation, points out that “with projects like Innomakers4Health, we open the door for entrepreneurs to develop their full potential and create innovative solutions for the benefit of patients and the healthcare system as a whole. The challenge that The proposal we are making this year is ambitious, yet necessary, as antimicrobial resistance has become a global public health problem.”
The top three finishers will share a prize of €6,000, and the winner will have the opportunity to accelerate their project at InnomakersLAB, Pfizer's hub, together with Wayra, who, in turn, will provide access to a 6-month mentoring program; the possibility of working in their space located on Gran Vía in Madrid; access to Telefónica's multiple business units; and the opportunity to be invested in by Wayra in the future.
About Wayra
Wayra is Telefónica's Corporate Venture Capital arm, through which it invests in startups with the potential to bring innovation to Telefónica and provides innovation services to third parties, helping them take their open innovation initiatives to the next level.
With a global presence, it has seven hubs in Europe (Spain - Madrid and Barcelona -, the United Kingdom, and Germany) and Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia), and teams operating in nine countries. Through its funds, it also has a presence in Silicon Valley and Israel.
Since its creation more than 13 years ago, Wayra has invested €233 million in over 1,100 startups and currently has over 530 startups in its portfolio, of which over 190 work with Telefónica. We also have a network of over 140 partners and clients, and two innovation platforms (Alaian and Open Future) open to third parties.
About the Pfizer Foundation
The Pfizer Foundation has been committed for 25 years to promoting science, technology, and innovation and bringing them closer to society. To this end, it renews its strategic commitment to scientific, technological, and social innovation each year by building bridges between research and society, with the goal of translating scientific advances into practical applications that benefit people. For more information: www.fundacionpfizer.org
About Pfizer, Innovations that Change Patients' Lives®
Pfizer, as a biomedical company working to improve people's health, is dedicated to developing innovative therapies and vaccines to cure and prevent diseases or alleviate their symptoms. With a history of more than 175 years, Pfizer maintains its commitment to society and invests in R&D to meet the medical needs of today and tomorrow. The advancement of science and technology, as well as its medical application, requires collaboration with all stakeholders to maximize the portfolio of medicines and ensure that pharmaceutical innovation reaches all those who need it quickly, affordably, reliably, and transparently, in accordance with the highest standards of quality and safety. For more information www.pfizer.es