Hakim Family Innovation Prize: Most Transformative Innovation

This award recognizes ideas, new processes or devices in health care with potential to have a tangible and meaningful impact on the patients entrusted to our care. One winner will be chosen as the recipient of this prestigious prize and will receive a $10,000 monetary award. As well, courtesy of our partners, the winning team will receive expert services and support from well-known local firms, including dedicated physical presence at the McGill Clinical Innovation Platform for up to 12 months and access to Faculty and University services* plus the option to apply for matching funds**. The value of this additional support is $40,000⁺.

Marika Zelenka Roy Innovation Prize: Innovations Providing Best Solution

There are two award categories for this prize. The first award recognizes the best solution to an unmet clinical need for the care of a patient and the highest likelihood of success in being translated. The second award, the Marika Zelenka Roy Simnovation Prize, recognizes an innovation that improves patient safety/quality, or addresses an unmet clinical need, through simulation. The first award winner will receive a $9,000 monetary award and the second award winner will receive a $4,500 monetary award.  As well, courtesy of our partners, both winning teams will receive expert services and support from well-known local firms, including a dedicated physical presence at the McGill Clinical Innovation Platform for up to 12 months and access to Faculty and University services* plus the option to apply for matching funds**. The value of this additional support is $13,250 per team⁺.

Bereskin & Parr Innovation Prize: Clinical Innovation with the Most Promising Commercial Value Proposition 

This award recognizes the clinical innovation that has the greatest promise of a commercial value proposition. This prize consists of a monetary award in the amount of $5,000 and in-kind services by Bereskin & Parr in the amount of $2,500.

The Pediatrics Clinical Innovation Prizes

Courtesy of the generosity of the McGill Departments of Paediatrics and Paediatric Surgery, consist of two awards. These awards recognize a preventative, diagnostic or therapeutic innovative approach or digital tool designed to address an unmet or poorly served need in paediatric medical or surgical care. Each award winner will receive a $4,000 monetary award and $16,000 available as matching funds. As well, courtesy of our partners, both winning teams will receive expert services and support from well-known local firms, including a heavily discounted dedicated physical presence at the McGill Clinical Innovation Platform for up to 12 months and access to Faculty and University services* plus support in applying for matching funds**. Newly added to the prize: a  6 month hybrid mentorship program to each winner by Health Innovation Capital, which will be delivered in person and virtually.

* Please note, this is subject to terms, conditions and availability. Limitations may apply. This includes the Steinberg Centre for Simulation and Interactive Learning, the Clinical Innovation Platform at the Montreal General Hospital, the Centre for Innovative Medicine’s Experimental Operating Room and the Simulation Suite at the MUHC Glen site subject to availability and as allocated by the Innovation Director.

**In addition to cash prizes and services to support the development of their proof of concept, winners of the Hakim Family Innovation Prize, the Marika Zelenka Roy Innovation Prizes and the MI4 Innovation Prizes will be eligible to apply for 1:1 matching funds to lever additional external funding such as investments, business grants, acceleration awards, MIitacs, etc. to support the growth of their start-up. This prize component is valid for the twelve-month period from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.

⁺ Non-negotiable, non-exchangeable and no substitutes. Credits to be used or encumbered with approval in writing by June 30, 2025

Benefits Include:

All winning teams will gain access to expert support from within the McGill Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, its academic network and its extended network of mentors and alumni, together with potential benefits such as:

• Mentorship, advice and guidance in multiple areas of expertise such as business, legal, engineering, clinical;
• Legal, Financial and Intellectual Property (IP) legal support;
• Reduced rates for services at the Steinberg Centre for Simulation and Interactive Learning; 
• One profile article published by the communications office at the Steinberg Centre for Simulation and Interactive Learning;
• Access to professional training activities as they become available;
• Exposure to decision- and policy-makers, key opinion leaders, entrepreneurs and other key enablers.

In preparation for the pitching event, the finalists have the option of coaching offered by McGill’s Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) through the SKILLSETS program. Pitch specialist Dr. Andrew Churchill will facilitate two presentation skills workshops focused on content and slide development as well as voice, body language and stage presence. Additionally, in the days leading up to the public competition, there will be a final pitch feedback coaching session where participants will receive targeted feedback on their presentations.