Wave of the Times, Ushering in a New Chapter: 15 Innovative Projects Advance to the Finals of the 2023 MedTech Innovation Challenge

On October 28, 2023, the online semi-finals of the 2023 Medical Technology Innovation Challenge, co-hosted by the Administrative Committee of Changzhou National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone and Medtronic Kanghui, were successfully held! The competition was guided by the Artificial Intelligence Professional Committee of the China Computer Industry Association and the Office of the Changzhou Innovation Committee, with academic guidance provided by the Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Branch of the Chinese Society for Neuroscience. During the semi-finals, 30 projects focusing on medical devices, intelligent equipment, surgical robots, artificial intelligence and big data, and medical services in the fields of neuroscience and brain science were presented sequentially, making their final push toward the national finals!

At the outset of the competition, Professor Mao Ying, Chairman of the Basic and Clinical Neurosurgery Branch of the Chinese Society for Neuroscience and Dean of Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, delivered the opening remarks for the semi-finals. Professor Mao noted that an increasing number of novel, original technologies are continuously fueling the development of neurosurgery, benefiting patients while serving as “tools” that enable surgeons to achieve superior operative performance. He also expressed his earnest hope that more high-quality technologies and products will emerge in the future, accelerating advancements in neuroscience, truly realizing personalized and precision medicine in the field, and fostering closer integration between healthcare and industry.

2023 Healthcare Technology Innovation Challenge – Semifinal Review

This competition has invited a total of 1 clinical experts from professional fields, experts from top universities and research institutions, and managers from leading industry funds.5Distinguished judges participated in the evaluation, which adopted a format of “project roadshows plus Q&A with judges.” They conducted on-site scoring based on criteria including the project’s basic overview, team strength, core advantages, and future prospects. Following the judging panel’s assessment and scoring, 15 projects successfully advanced to the finals.

As the crown jewel of the natural sciences, neuroscience and brain science not only serve as the knowledge foundation for currently high-profile technological fields such as brain-computer interfaces, artificial intelligence, and neuromorphic computing, but also inspire numerous artistic creations involving concepts like consciousness uploading, shared brains, and memory interoperability. As the most cutting-edge and frontier domain of life sciences, it remains one of the most formidable “scientific fortresses” for humanity to conquer. In recent years, with strong national support, China’s neuroscience industry has entered a critical period of strategic opportunity. It has been explicitly identified as a key focus area for national scientific and technological innovation under the 14th Five-Year Plan. Countless enterprises have flocked to this sector, driving industry leaders to continuously innovate, break through technical barriers, and bring numerous innovative products in neuroscience and brain science to market. Against this backdrop, Medtronic, in partnership with the Administrative Committee of Changzhou National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, jointly launched the 2023 Medical Technology Innovation Challenge to explore the “code of development” in neuroscience and strategically position early advantages for its future. After nearly two months of enthusiastic submissions, a total of 87 innovative projects were registered. Facing the new wave of technology and emerging development opportunities, the strong alliance between these innovative projects and Medtronic will spark new ideas and seize the initiative in the new frontier of neuroscience.

As global initiatives in brain science accelerate their strategic implementation, neuroscience and brain science have emerged as new bellwethers for industrial technological development. This competition has witnessed the emergence of a cohort of innovative projects with breakthrough significance. Among the 87 registered teams were university professors and researchers, as well as leading enterprise talents and young scientists. Notably, many projects stemmed from research commercialization efforts at institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, and other renowned domestic and international universities. Furthermore, the finalists’ projects covered a diverse and novel range of categories, including cutting-edge medical devices in neuroscience (such as intracranial vascular intervention systems, and rehabilitation and assistive therapy robots); digital health platforms (such as perceptual training platforms, intelligent multidimensional assessment and intervention systems for neurological disorders, and surgical planning and evaluation tools for intracranial aneurysms); and smart devices (such as brain-computer interface equipment and neurostimulators). This indicates that high-caliber industrial projects derived from the fields of neuroscience and brain science are gradually coming to the fore. Driven by these innovative endeavors, neuroscience is poised to become the next disruptive emerging industry that will profoundly shape the future survival and development of humanity.

The 15 shortlisted projects have successfully secured their spots in the Grand Finals of the 2023 Medical Technology Innovation Challenge! The Grand Finals will be officially held in Changzhou, China, in December 2023. The event will feature a panel of expert judges from clinical practice, top universities and research institutions, leading industry investment firms, and relevant industrial sectors. Winning projects will receive priority recommendation for residency and incubation services at the Medtronic Kanghui Changzhou Science and Technology Park, gaining access to comprehensive professional services spanning the entire lifecycle from R&D to market launch. Additionally, these projects may be recommended for inclusion in Changzhou’s “Longcheng Talent Program,” qualifying them for industrial support policies and other rewards—including talent introduction incentives, corporate subsidies, and loan interest subsidies from the Changzhou Municipal Government—with total support exceeding RMB 10 million. Furthermore, the Organizing Committee will invite authoritative clinical experts, listed companies, investment institutions, and other industry resources to facilitate connections for outstanding projects, thereby accelerating their industrialization. Finally, outstanding projects will gain exposure through various online media platforms. The organizers will also provide opportunities for exclusive media interviews and coverage, helping projects increase market visibility, conduct market education, and enhance external awareness and perception.

The 2023 Healthcare Technology Innovation Challenge looks forward to collaborating with maker elites and research leaders in the neuroscience field across China to strategize for industrial development and promote the continued flourishing of great endeavors in neuroscience and brain science!

Upholding its long-standing commitment to patients and physicians in China, Medtronic’s Spine and Neurosurgery business group in China continues to strengthen local capabilities, optimize and upgrade its industry-academia-research-medical innovation collaboration platform, and support the development of a local innovation ecosystem. The Medtronic Kanghui Changzhou facility has consistently played a pivotal strategic role within Medtronic’s global spine business, providing critical support for both Medtronic China and its worldwide spine operations. Leveraging the Changzhou facility, Medtronic has established comprehensive local capabilities in China, encompassing commercialization, product management, research and development, manufacturing, quality assurance, and business development.

In June 2022, Medtronic’s China Orthopedics and Neurosurgery Business Group signed a strategic investment agreement with the Changzhou Municipal Government for the Medtronic Kanghui Technology Park. This initiative marks a new round of strategic upgrades built upon Medtronic’s long-term commitment to Changzhou, represents another significant step in advancing its localization strategy, and further solidifies the foundation for Medtronic’s sustainable development in China.

In April 2023, Mr. Geoff Martha, Global CEO of Medtronic, visited Changzhou to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new science and technology park project alongside leaders from Jiangsu Province and Changzhou City at various levels, fully demonstrating Medtronic’s confidence and determination to continuously increase its investment in local innovation.

In the future, the Medtronic Kanghui Changzhou Science and Technology Park will serve the dual functions of being Medtronic’s global production base and Kanghui Medical’s global headquarters. It will also feature four core capabilities: a Clinical Customer Center, an Intelligent Manufacturing Center, a Center of Excellence for R&D, and an Innovation Incubation Center. Leveraging top-tier product R&D capabilities, world-leading manufacturing prowess, a professional regulatory and quality system, as well as capital support and corporate services, the park will comprehensively empower collaborative innovation among industry, academia, research, and healthcare institutions in China’s orthopedics and neuroscience sectors. This will accelerate clinical translation from 0 to 1 and facilitate industrial scale-up from 1 to 100.