About CHISEL
CHISEL helps start-ups and SMEs test and adopt healthcare innovations within Singapore's healthcare clusters. Learn how the programme takes solutions from proof-of-value to real-world adoption.
Centre for Healthcare Innovation Start-Up Enterprise Link (CHISEL)
Centre for Healthcare Innovation Start-Up Enterprise Link (CHISEL) is a programme that aims to accelerate the adoption of market-ready healthcare innovations that are fit for mainstream use, at speed at scale.
It provides a sandbox and marketplace that enables start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to access real use cases and environments and demonstrate proof-of-value (POV) of market-ready or near-market-ready solutions with one of the three Singapore healthcare clusters as a primary collaborative test-bed site. The eventual aim is to bridge the gap between market-ready solutions and adoption, aiming for procurement for use by healthcare institutions.
Simultaneously, healthcare clusters can evaluate the operational feasibility of solutions before adoption or scale-up. The platform aims to bridge the market adoption gap and allow patients early access to new and emerging healthcare innovations to meet healthcare gaps.
Over five successful runs from 2021 to 2025, more than 1,800 innovators across 88 countries competed, and 18 companies have been awarded about $9.5mil to test-bed their solutions with one of the three healthcare clusters, potentially enhancing patient care and delivering positive health outcomes.
An end-to-end process that moves a potential solution from proof of value to adoption
Innovation Call
The Challenge consists of several rounds, inviting start-ups and SMEs to submit solutions to solve pressing challenges and transform the future of healthcare. Shortlisted participants can look forward to coaching by healthcare professionals and a Final Pitching Event.
Test-Bedding
Winning start-ups and SMEs will be matched to one of the healthcare institutions from the partnering healthcare clusters to carry out test-bedding. The test-bedding is to be completed in a simulated and/ or clinical environment, complying to regulations and institutional policies in the partner healthcare cluster.
Evaluation
Upon completion of the test-bedding phase, the partner healthcare clusters would evaluate the success of the test-bed using the Centre for Healthcare Innovation Evaluation Framework (CHIEF) as the main evaluation framework.
Adoption
Solutions may potentially be adopted by local healthcare institutions if the CHIEF outcomes criteria are met, solution is feasible, sustainable and ready for deployment and there are interests from the various healthcare clusters to adopt the solution.
All CHISEL test-bed solutions are to be evaluated using the CHI Evaluation Framework (CHIEF) (opens in new tab). CHIEF is a holistic framework for the evaluation of innovative solutions seeking real world deployment. Evaluation costs should be included in your application. You may also engage additional services (e.g. statistical analysis, study design, sample calculation etc.) from CHIEF or an independent expert for the purposes of the test-bed at your discretion.