[afro-nets] Global Competition Seeks Disruptive Innovations in Health and Health Care

["Roberto Wohlgemuth" <rwohlgemuth@ashoka.org>]

Global Competition Seeks Disruptive Innovations in Health and Health Care
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A global competition has been launched to find transformative innovations that could dramatically reshape how health care is delivered and experienced by those who need it. The online competition, "Disruptive Innovations in Health and Health Care-Solutions People Want," is hosted by Changemakers in partnership with the Pioneer Portfolio of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).  It uses Changemakers's unique open sourcing social solutions(tm) competition model. 

The "Disruptive Innovations" competition, which runs through July 18, expects to attract global leaders whose ideas create new services, tools, and choices that people want. Examples of disruptive innovations that are already transforming health care are:
*	home glucose monitors that give diabetics the ability and convenience to get blood glucose readings in seconds in the convenience and comfort of their own homes; 
*	and walk-in health clinics in commercial venues that enable patients to quickly see skilled nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who diagnose and treat common conditions at lower costs than typical doctor visits. 

Approximately twelve competition finalists will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges. All finalists will attend a Change Summit to stimulate future collaborations and insights from thought leaders in the field. 

Changemakers's global network will then vote online for three winners from anywhere in the world-each of whom will receive a $5,000 cash prize from Changemakers. In addition, RWJF's Pioneer Portfolio will review competition entries and may award up to $5 million to support projects (restricted to U.S. organizations) that show potential to go to scale.  

 

"We are challenging enterprising thinkers to consider how shifts or
changes in key aspects of the marketplace can help consumers manage
their health how they want, where they want , when they want," said
Barrand. "Changemakers's open-source competition model provides RWJF
with a transparent, interactive way to engage a vast network of
entrepreneurs in finding solutions that make sense to consumers and
respond to what they value."

This is the second in a series of idea competitions co-sponsored by Changemakers and RWJF. The unique competition model attracts solutions from social entrepreneurs from around the globe. Innovators submit their ideas and the Changemakers online community provides feedback on the problem and proposed solutions throughout the competition. This interactive process is designed not only to catalyze action on important issues but also to connect participants' solutions with key decision-makers, investors, and health and social service providers. 

"Changemakers is about connecting the global change community and providing innovators the collaborative power and velocity to deal with problems in real time," according to Charlie Brown, Changemakers's Executive Director. "Our collaborative series of competitions with RWJF promises to forge wider, stronger communities of practice that will take solutions to scale at unprecedented rates."

"Disruptive innovation," a term coined by Harvard Business Professor Clayton Christensen, describes a technology, process, or business model that enables more people to afford and/or have the ability to use a product or service. The change caused by such an innovation is so significant that it eventually replaces, or disrupts, the established approach to providing that product or service.  

Changemakers is an initiative of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public. For details on the competition, visit http://www.changemakers.net/

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing the United States. For more information, visit http://www.rwjf.org/

Ashoka is a citizen sector organization (CSO), not a non-profit:  Defined by what we are, rather than by what we are not. Learn more at http://www.ashoka.org/citizensector.

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Roberto Wohlgemuth
mailto:rwohlgemuth@ashoka.org