2019 Open Innovation Forum call for challenges and solutions now open

The 2^nd annual Open Innovation Forum is here. This program allows companies to share their innovation challenges and get proposals from research groups and centers.

The Open Innovation Forum is divided into five areas of knowledge (food, healthcare,medtech, chemistry and materials). Any companies and stakeholders that are interested in participating can send in proposals through the end of 2019. This way, innovation challenges will be received all year long. In 2019, several events will be held so that companies and problem-solvers can meet face-to-face.

A committee will assess the challenges sent in and choose the most relevant, which will get feedback on possible solutions from Catalan innovation stakeholders and university research centers. They will also be invited to gatherings with the problem-solvers. It will take roughly 60 days to receive a proposal after the challenge is submitted.

 "The Open Innovation Forum aims to create a lasting physical and virtual meeting point for the innovation agents in our ecosystem to cooperate and interact," highlights Biocat Director of Innovation Núria Martí.

The Open Innovation Forum is organized by Biocat, Bosch i Gimpera Foundation, Pompeu Fabra University, UPF Ventures, Autonomous University of Barcelona, UAB Research Park, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, IDIBELL and ACCIÓ. The first Open Innovation Forum, held in 2017, saw nearly 150 participants, 54 organizations, 76 challenges and 131 meetings.