startAD, the Abu Dhabi-based startup accelerator that is part of Tamkeen and based at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), has signed an agreement with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) to launch HealthX. HealthX is a new startup program aimed at advancing Abu Dhabi as a hub for the biotech and life sciences industry.
Through HealthX, 30 cutting-edge global life science startups will be onboarded into the UAE’s healthcare ecosystem over the next two years.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, executive director of the Research and Innovation Centre at DoH, and Ramesh Jagannathan, managing director of startAD.
Moreover, the announcement was made during the Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week (ADGHW). This underscores the commitment of both parties to boost the UAE’s healthcare innovation credentials.
Read more: Abu Dhabi’s DoH, M42 launch region’s largest hybrid cord blood bank
Applications are now open for the inaugural HealthX cohort, which will focus on generative AI in healthcare and life sciences.
Subsequent cohorts will tackle areas like genomics, precision medicine, neurodegenerative disease, and advanced therapeutics. They will also focus on drug discovery, mental health, and assistive technology.
Intensive training, personalized support
The HealthX incubator will further provide startups with six weeks of intensive training and personalized support. They will also have the potential to secure customers in the UAE. It will help global and local startups develop customized pilot proposals and gain deep understanding of the UAE market.
Successful startups will benefit from access to DoH’s regulatory sandbox and UAE de-identified data to refine their products. They will also get opportunities to collaborate on cutting-edge research at leading academic institutes. Additionally, they will receive business support in areas like finance, legal, licensing, IP, mentorship, and introductions to venture capitalists.
The initiative is open to pre-seed to Series B startups, both global and local, that are developing innovative healthcare technologies. These startups must have a clear use case for the Abu Dhabi market.
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