Tissue-engineered implants, bio-robotic organs, AI-enabled organ software and organoids that preface a future revolution in ‘whole organ engineering’ and regenerative medicine are a new frontier in bionic innovation.
Challenge 3 – Bionic Implants and Organs
How can you and your team make a difference? End-stage organ failure is a leading cause of mortality around the world. As a result, the need for novel therapies to treat patients with end-stage organ failure is very high.
The last ten years has also seen great progress in tissue engineering and biofabrication and the decade ahead will see wider surgical use of 3-D bio printed bone and tissue plus new bio-robotic organs and AI-enabled organ software. While the science behind many types of bionic implants and future options for ‘engineered organs’ is still developing, this is a very exciting frontier of bionics discovery and innovation.
The team that wins our Bionic Implants and Organs Challenge in 2021 will deliver a next generation bionics innovation in one of the following areas:
- Implanted bio-robotic organs (IBROs) which integrate with the body by sensing in-body signals and acting to regulate biological and metabolic processes
- AI-enabled organs or organ software that replace the functionality of a human organ with a potential mix of sensing, controlling and performing actions in line with patient choice
- Early stage bionic organs and organoids that inform progressive work towards whole-organ engineering to replace traditional human organ transplantation.
- Tissue-engineered implants – bone, vascular grafts, cartilage, and other bionic implants that interface with regenerative medicine.
Our 2021 Major Category Winner was awarded $50,000 plus Winners Mentoring and Acceleration
Our Early Stage Bionic Innovation Award Winner received $10,000 to progress their project plus Winners Mentoring and Acceleration
The clock is ticking to plan your entry for 2022. You and your team could win a great cash prize and expert advice to fast track your innovation! Queensland-led teams are invited to compete for these major Challenge Category Prizes.
Major Bonuses for National Bionics Innovation Prize Winners are:
– A $25,000 cash prize to expend on advancing your bionic innovation
– A chance to share in $25,000 of Morgans Financial insights, support and mentoring
– A potential ‘fast track’ to the final decision-making round of Antler’s acceleration program for start-ups (at the VC’s Sydney office).
This prize for the most outstanding project/team across all Bionics Challenge contestants could be awarded to an innovation in one of the four categories: Bionic Mobility. Bionic Senses, Bionic Implants and Organs; or Bionics, the Brain and Neurotechnology.
Project leaders of teams competing for the National Bionics Innovation Prize may reside in any Australian state/territory. All Queensland-led teams are eligible to compete for Major Category Prizes and the National Bionics Innovation Prize.