Sanofi, Capgemini, Generali and Orange have created a joint venture to launch Future4care.
The four partners formed an ehealth ecosystem in January and describe Future4care as “Europe’s only health-focused startup accelerator program.
“The objective is to stimulate the development of e-health solutions and their go-to-market, for the benefit of both patients and health professionals.”
Healthcare providers, researchers and academics will be “fully integrated into this initiative”, Orange said in a statement, which also involves hospitals, healthcare institutions, higher education institutions, universities, and patient associations.
Selection process
The startup selection process is based on two routes: applicants can respond to a specific call for projects or submit a spontaneous application.
The first call for projects will be launched in September 2021 around two themes: virtual care using digital tools and personalised care (from diagnosis to treatment).
Future4care is both a startup accelerator and an institute providing content on digital health and delivering reference certifications.
Insitute too
The institute is a knowledge centre offering conference programs, conducting constant monitoring of new technologies and their use and connecting members of its community with external experts.
From December 2021, Future4care’s startups and partners will have access to the Future4care BioPark – a dedicated 6,000 square metre space in central Paris – which aims to become the European hub to progress digital health.
Startups choosing to join Future4care can received tailored support through a series of thematic Labs: Creative Lab; Medical/Regulatory Lab; Business & Ethics Lab; Data & AI Lab; and Living Lab.
Through this journey and the collaboration with partners, each startup will have the capacity to design, test, validate and launch solutions that are both concrete and innovative.
Finally, the entire Future4care offer will also be available online, via a digital exchange platform, (www.future4care.com) allowing it to attract European entrepreneurs.
Access to knowledge
As access to data is essential for digital health, the founding members will work together to provide startups with data relevant for their development, in compliance with the applicable ethical and legal framework.
Ultimately, the Future4care accelerator aims to bring together a wide ecosystem of diverse contributors including:
• the four founding members
• 15 corporate partners
• 100 French and European startups
• health, technology and insurance players
• public and private hospitals
• patient associations
• regulators
• schools and higher education institutions.
Agnès De Leersnyder, CEO Future4care, said, “The support we provide to startups is designed to give talented growth companies the means to successfully plan their go to market and to offer concrete solutions that improve both the patient’s life and the healthcare system.
“While we will provide all of our services on our digital platform, we will also open a place of work and collaboration in the heart of the BioPark in the centre of Paris…All together, they will create ‘made in Future4care’ solutions for patients and healthcare professionals”.
Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French Minister Delegate for Industry, declared, “I welcome the creation of Future4care, which is in line with the government’s priorities to make France a leader in digital health. Indeed, digital innovation is at the heart of our priorities to improve patient care and find more effective therapeutic solutions”.