What we are looking for,
where your technology
fits, and what is on offer
The Challenge focuses on enabling diagnostic, therapeutic or digital clinical workflow support at numerous healthcare levels, through integrated, affordable, digital and AI-enabled technologies.
Integrated technologies, not isolated ones.
Applicants will be required to demonstrate products or technologies that integrate:
- Low-cost portable diagnostic or therapeutic hardware, new or digitally upgraded
- On-device or near-device AI models for rapid triage or decision support
- Secure, offline-capable digital workflow that links clinicians across diverse healthcare settings
Applicants may:
- Develop new digital or AI-driven diagnostic or therapeutic innovations, or
- Modernise, re-engineer or digitise historical mechanical or analogue devices to increase accessibility, precision, automation and connectivity
This system-level integration must be demonstrated in a relevant screening or diagnostic context selected by the applicant.
Select one primary track.
While you select one track, you are encouraged to demonstrate how your innovation contributes to, integrates with, or enables the broader MedTech ecosystem.
Diagnostics/Therapeutics and Devices
From Mechanical to Smart Systems
Applicants should demonstrate the development of new digital diagnostic or therapeutic technologies, or the modernisation of existing mechanical or analogue systems through sensors, imaging technologies, embedded electronics, automation, or connected devices.
The emphasis is on transforming traditional technologies into smart, connected healthcare systems.
Products or technologies may include:
- New digital diagnostic or therapeutic devices leveraging sensors, optics, or embedded processors
- Re-engineered mechanical or analogue diagnostic tools upgraded using microelectronics, digital imaging, wireless modules, automation mechanisms, and enhanced durability and usability features
AI-Enabled Care and Triage
Intelligent Pre-Analysis
Applicants should demonstrate how artificial intelligence is used to provide clinical decision support, triage, risk scoring, pattern recognition, or similar healthcare functions.
Technologies designed for resource-constrained environments, including offline or edge-based AI capabilities, are particularly encouraged.
Products or technologies must incorporate AI/ML components that deliver:
- Automated triage or pattern recognition
- Real-time or near-real-time inference
- Offline or on-device operation
- Context-appropriate accuracy and explainability
- Applicants may build new models or integrate and enhance existing AI systems
Secure Workflow and Referral Systems
Connected Clinical Pathways
Applicants should demonstrate how their technology enables secure, POPIA-compliant information exchange and referral management.
Technologies should support low-bandwidth and offline-first environments and facilitate connectivity between devices, AI outputs, healthcare practitioners, and health system stakeholders.
Products or technologies must include:
- POPIA-compliant data governance and compatibility
- Offline-first workflows
- Low-bandwidth data exchange for referrals
- End-to-end linkage between device, AI, healthcare and clinician input
- Audit trails and secure communication