What is the BioInnovate Ireland Fellowship?

BioInnovate Ireland: Transforming Healthcare through Needs-Led Innovation.

The BioInnovate Ireland Fellowship is a 10-month full-time specialist medical device and digital health innovation programme. Based on the needs led innovation approach first proposed by Stanford University, the programme guides multidisciplinary teams through a full cycle of innovation, from needs identification to designing and prototyping viable solutions as well as securing funding.

The BioInnovate Fellowship, fully funded by Enterprise Ireland, provides Fellows with a tax-free monthly stipend of €3,800 throughout the programme, totalling €38,000 over the 10-month duration (equivalent to an annual salary of €64,650 inclusive of tax). Additionally, programme fees up to €5,750 are covered.

Who can apply?

The Fellowship programme is centred around the recruitment of three multi-disciplinary teams, each with four team members. We typically seek individuals from four broad areas:

• Clinical (Medical doctors, Nurses, Allied Healthcare Professionals)
• Technical (Engineers, Scientists, Data Analysts, Designers)
• Commercial (Business, MBA graduates, Marketing/Sales Leaders)
• Other (Highly motivated individuals interested in healthcare innovation)

In addition to the traditional disciplines that have applied to the programme, we are interested in attracting candidates with software, AI or data analysis skills who can help meet the future needs in digital health and connected devices.

We also welcome applications from ‘other’ disciplines where the applicants are ambitious and motivated by innovation.

We expect that applicants have 5-10 years’ experience and have a demonstrated track record in their respective professions.

The programme leverages the proven Stanford BioDesign framework to develop talented, motivated, multidisciplinary teams of innovators to shape the future of healthcare globally.

Programme Structure

Identify: Fellowship participants are assigned a single clinical area, where they will spend eight weeks in clinical immersion, carefully observing, identifying, and logging hundreds of clinical needs. This involves engaging with clinical staff, reviewing surgery, and interacting with care givers and patients.

Invent: The Fellows then characterise these needs into possible solutions by brainstorming potential solutions for each of their top needs, supported by mentoring by academics, industry leaders and clinicians.

Implement: The final phase is Implementation involving prototyping, regulatory affairs and reimbursement strategies. The Fellows bring their concepts through to business planning, pitching to venture capitalists and in some cases commercialisation.”