Johnson & Johnson Medical Korea Ltd. and Johnson & Johnson Innovation Announce Launch of Seoul Innovation QuickFire Challenge: Robotics & Digital Surgery

PR74759

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- In Collaboration with Seoul Metropolitan Government and KHIDI

- QuickFire Challenge seeks to identify and accelerate game-changing,

early-stage innovations in the areas of robotics and digital surgery from

around the world.

- Winners will receive up to KRW 150,000,000 (approximately US$134,000),

residence at the Seoul Bio Hub, mentorship and coaching, and access to the

Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS (JLABS) global entrepreneurial community.

Johnson & Johnson Medical Korea Ltd. and Johnson & Johnson Innovation today

announced the launch of the Seoul Innovation QuickFire Challenge: Robotics &

Digital Surgery in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and

Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI). The challenge invites

innovators from around the world -- including start-ups, entrepreneurs,

academics, scientists, and biotech researchers -- to submit ideas for robotics

and digital health solutions with the potential to help surgeons and their

patients.  

The global competition also aims to help build a digital ecosystem in Korea and

around the world where technologies enhance surgical performance, educate

surgeons, and guide patients through to full recovery. Up to two winners will

receive up to KRW 150,000,000 (approximately US$134,000)1 in total grants, one

year of residency at the Seoul Bio Hub, one year of mentorship and coaching

from experts in science and commercialization at the Johnson & Johnson Family

of Companies, and access to the JLABS global entrepreneurial community.

"The surgical robotics industry is growing fast, and the global market for the

industry is expected to reach $12.6 billion by 20252. Korea is an emerging

leader in medical device innovation with tremendous potential in the areas of

robotics and digital healthcare," said Dan Wang, Head, Johnson & Johnson

Innovation, Asia Pacific. "The Robotics & Digital Surgery QuickFire Challenge

is a global call for submissions through which we aim to identify great ideas

that can make a long-lasting and global impact."

The QuickFire Challenges, launched by JLABS -- the no-strings attached

incubators of Johnson & Johnson Innovation -- seek to empower and enable

groundbreaking science and health solutions by encouraging students,

entrepreneurs, researchers, and start-up companies, etc. to apply. The Robotics

& Digital Surgery QuickFire Challenge will focus on the following innovation

areas:

- Pre-op: Apps, Wearables, Planning Software

- Intra-op: Robotics, Visualization, Neuromonitoring, Imaging

- Post-op: Sensors, Wearables, Apps

Approximately five billion people around the world do not have access to safe

surgery3. While patient outcomes in surgery have improved over the past decade

-- driven by better materials, implant designs, and surgical techniques --

major obstacles still need to be addressed. Surgical patients continue to

experience major discrepancies in success, including a 20-40% rate of failed

back surgery syndrome (FBSS)4. Inconsistencies in surgical training and high

rates of burnout among orthopedic surgeons5 are some of the factors

contributing to variations in patient outcomes.

"At the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, innovation drives what we

do, and the launch of the QuickFire Challenge provides us with a unique

opportunity to further improve the standard care for patients and surgeons

through collaboration with innovators in Korea and around the world in the

discovery and development of digital and robotic surgery solutions." said Euan

Thomson, Global Head R&D, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies.

The challenge aims to improve robotics and digital surgery by combining Johnson

& Johnson Innovation's unique vision for collaboration in an open innovation

model with the Seoul Metropolitan Government's efforts to drive innovation and

commercialize its research outcomes; KHIDI's focus on identifying and solving

critical problems within the ecosystem with healthcare research and innovative

solutions; and Seoul Bio Hub's ability to foster and accelerate the development

and commercialization of early-stage life-science solutions in the start-up

community.

"Advancing technology is a tremendous opportunity that can lead the industry to

dramatic improvements. An enhanced digital ecosystem will contribute to better

surgical outcomes by advancing disease prediction and prevention, and improving

personalized treatment and treatment efficiency," said Jae Yoo, Area Managing

Director, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices, North Asia. "Through the QuickFire

Challenge, we hope to find solutions that will accelerate the progress of

robotics and digital surgery in Korea and globally."

The announcement marks the second QuickFire Challenge in Korea, following the

launch of the first Seoul Innovation QuickFire Challenge in August 2017. The

deadline to submit is October 5, 2018. For more information about the Robotics

& Digital Surgery QuickFire Challenge (including the terms and conditions of

entry), please visit: http://jlabs.tv/robotics

About Johnson & Johnson Innovation

Johnson & Johnson Innovation focuses on accelerating all stages of innovation

worldwide and forming collaborations between entrepreneurs and Johnson &

Johnson's global healthcare businesses. Johnson & Johnson Innovation provides

scientists, entrepreneurs and emerging companies with one-stop access to

science and technology experts who can facilitate collaborations across the

pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer companies of Johnson & Johnson.

Under the Johnson & Johnson Innovation umbrella of businesses, we connect with

innovators through our regional Innovation Centers, JLABS, Johnson & Johnson

Innovation - JJDC, Inc. and our Business Development teams to create customized

deals and novel collaborations that speed development of innovations to solve

unmet needs in patients. For more information please visit

www.jnjinnovation.com.

About Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS

Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS (JLABS) is a global network of open

innovation ecosystems, enabling and empowering innovators to create and

accelerate the delivery of life-saving, life-enhancing health and wellness

solutions to patients around the world. JLABS achieves this by providing the

optimal environment for emerging companies to catalyze growth and optimize

their research and development by opening them to vital industry connections,

delivering entrepreneurial programs and providing a capital efficient, flexible

platform where they can transform the scientific discoveries of today into the

breakthrough healthcare solutions of tomorrow. At JLABS we value great ideas

and are passionate about removing obstacles to success to help innovators

unleash the potential of their early scientific discoveries. JLABS is a

no-strings-attached model, which means entrepreneurs are free to develop their

science while holding on to their intellectual property. JLABS is open to

entrepreneurs across a broad healthcare spectrum including pharmaceutical,

medical device, consumer and digital health sectors. For more information about

JLABS, please visit www.jlabs.jnjinnovation.com

About the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies

The Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies' purpose is to reach more

patients and restore more lives. Having advanced patient care for more than a

century, these companies represent an unparalleled breadth of products,

services, programs and research and development capabilities in surgical

technology, orthopedics, cardiovascular and specialty solutions with an

offering directed at delivering clinical and economic value to health care

systems worldwide. Learn more about our latest innovations and updates by

visiting: https://www.jnjmedicaldevices.com.

1 From the KRW 150 million grant, each winner will receive a KRW 70 million

cash award and a KRW 5 million free space voucher which must be used toward the

rent and utilities at the Seoul Bio Hub for a year

2 Reportlinker: Global Surgical Robotics Market Focus on Products,

Applications, End Users, Countries, Patents, Market Share, and Competitive

Landscape - Analysis and Forecast (2017-2025)

(http://www.lancetglobalsurgery.org/)

3 The Lancet Commission: Universal access to safe, affordable surgical and

anesthesia care when needed saves lives, prevents disability, and promotes

economic growth. (http://www.lancetglobalsurgery.org/)

4 NCBI: Failed back surgery syndrome: current perspectives

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5106227/)

5 NCBI: Surgeon Burnout: A Systematic Review

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4884544/)

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Innovation