Ontario announces new round of funding for innovators

TORONTO – The third round of Ontario’s $20-million Health Technologies Fund (HTF) is now accepting applications. This program provides grants to support the implementation of Ontario-based health technologies.

“The Health Technologies Fund is already having an impact driving innovation forward in Ontario,” says William Charnetski (pictured), chief health innovation strategist for the Government of Ontario. “We have invested in 27 projects that are hitting major milestones, improving patient care, and driving economic development. The opportunity to explore disruptive technology showcases Ontario’s commitment to developing the future of healthcare.”

The third round will continue on the theme of Better Care Closer to Home focusing on using technology to improve client and care team communication; continuity of care provider; and supporting clients’ independence.

The Province has invested in 27 technology collaborations over the first two rounds of the HTF, bringing better care closer to home in the form of remote-patient monitoring, digital care-coordination and management, and patient support applications – to name a few. The fund will continue to explore the opportunities of health technology to advance the patient experience and create jobs in Ontario.

HTF is a program of the Government of Ontario’s Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist (OCHIS), and is administered by Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE).

“Through the Health Technologies Fund, we are accelerating the development and adoption of innovative healthcare technologies that will improve the patient experience and patient outcomes,” says Dr. Tom Corr, President and CEO, OCE. “Putting patients first is the primary objective of Ontario’s healthcare ecosystem and OCE is pleased to work on behalf of the Government of Ontario to deliver programs that ensure that continues to happen.”

HTF investments to date include:

Round (1): Fifteen projects that were selected to receive grants, including new digital tools to: provide self-care management to youth with mental health challenges; provide breast cancer patients with easy-to-access information about upcoming tests, manage appointments and treatment recommendations; and, help patients who have undergone cardiac and vascular surgery receive continuous vital sign monitoring in the hospital and at home.

Round (2): Twelve projects that were selected to receive grants, including: an app-based platform that allows people with limited mobility to perform a variety of tasks, a portable device that detects brain bleeding in traumatic brain injury patients, and a new digital tool that shortens the time patients need to spend in the hospital following heart surgery.

For information on how to apply, visit the Health Technologies Fund site.