The British Columbia-based Digital Technology Supercluster has announced a cumulative investment of approximately $30 million into 17 projects through its COVID-19 program, launched in April to contribute to Canada’s Plan to Mobilize Industry to fight the pandemic.
These latest investments round out the supercluster’s $60 million total commitment to the COVID-19 program.
The supercluster said these investments round out its $60 million total commitment to the COVID-19 program. The commitment comes from the supercluster’s $153 million budget. Within four months, the supercluster invested in 35 projects, ranging from mental health support to monitoring and detection of COVID-19. Sixteen of the 17 projects are completely new investments, and one is a follow-on investment.
“Our members are developing and deploying digital solutions to challenges presented by COVID-19 while supporting the reopening of our economy and the return to economic stability and growth for Canadians,” said Sue Paish, CEO of the Digital Technology Supercluster. “I’m proud of what this program has been able to accomplish in just four short months.”
The supercluster claimed that several previously announced projects within the COVID-19 Program are beginning to see results. The Point-of-Care Ultrasound project, for example, has deployed 75 ultrasound scanners, with the majority going to rural and remote communities across BC.
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Another project that received support through the program is an initiative led by SaaS startup Food-X Technologies, aimed at delivering groceries to essential workers, non-pandemic patients, and citizens in quarantine. Announced yesterday, that project is getting an additional $2.6 million to enhance its e-grocery management solution.
The supercluster also funded an app designed to increase access to mental health services, led by startup Thrive Health. The 16 new projects receiving funding the supercluster include:
Clothing to Remotely Connect to Care: Led by Myant, this project aims to support virtual healthcare through the application of remote wearable technologies to capture critical data such as temperature, breathing, and movement. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $1.1 million.
AI-based prediction tool for COVID-19 patient care: Led by 16 Bit, this project will develop a predictive tool to aid frontline clinicians with decision making and help policymakers better understand capacity constraints in the healthcare sector. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $1.3 million.
DirectFood.store: Led by Wisebox Solutions, the DirectFood.store project aims to use technology to create a one-stop-shop for consumers to source fresh food directly from local producers. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $1 million.
Emergency Food Distribution Network: Led by FoodMesh, this project seeks to create an emergency food distribution network and improve the efficiency of the food supply chain. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $2 million.
Global clinical network for infectious diseases: Spectrum MD is using its mobile clinical support platform to build a knowledge network for infectious diseases, to better democratize epidemiological datasets and clinic guidelines. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $2.3 million.
HEALTHYACCESS: Invixium is developing a new product allowing companies to abide by strict public health guidelines. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $850,000.
Project ABC: This project, led by Cambian, automates and integrates several systems to enable flexible testing and immunization booking across multiple autonomously managed systems. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $3 million.
Project ACTT: Led by Canexia Health, Project ACTT aims to reduce the burden on the healthcare system for cancer patients, by deploying a less invasive test as an alternative to surgical tissue biopsies. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $1.5 million.
Leveraging AI in Canada’s social response to COVID: Led by HelpSeeker, this project will see social researchers and machine learning experts develop an algorithm that predicts instances of homelessness, suicide, and domestic violence. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $600,000.
Mobile Wellness Declaration: BioConnect is leading the development of a healthtech screening solution targeting highly vulnerable residents in long-term care facilities. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $570,000.
Rapid assessment of disability claims during and post COVID-19: Led by Owl Labs, this project aims to monitor the eligibility of life and disability claims to streamline and reduce the financial impact of false claims. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $4.7 million.
Reduce Risk: Led by Molecular You, the Reduce Risk project is aimed at facilitating rapid-risk assessment by collecting data in a single place to analyze it and create models of COVID-19 in the body. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $1.4 million.
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ReSTART: Led by SeamlessMD, the ReSTART project aims to help tackle the backlog of surgeries with a solution that allows patients to remotely complete preoperative assessments and screenings. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $1.6 million.
Supporting Canada’s elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic: This project will develop a digital hub that controls an e-dispenser that allows the elderly to access medications with remote support from caregivers and medical professionals. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $650,000.
Telewound Care Canada: Led by Swift Medical, this project will develop a “telewound” solution that allows patients who are isolated to access remote wound care experts and resources regardless of where they live. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $2.5 million.
Virtual Pulse: Led by TTA Technology Training Associates, the Virtual Pulse project is building a digital training platform that is aimed to help develop clinical reasoning abilities for front-line workers. The supercluster investment for this project totalled $2.2 million.
Image source Unsplash. Photo by Claudio Schwarz.