The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched the 2011 Industry Innovation Competition to identify, fund, and evaluate promising innovative technology proposals that aim to improve the quality of healthcare for veterans. Up to $100 million has been earmarked for award recipients. Submissions are due by April 15, 2011.
“VA has a long history of being an innovator and early adopter of health technology,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said in a press release. “This competition continues that legacy and provides VA with a powerful tool to utilize the best and brightest within the industry to improve care and services for our nation’s veterans, their families, and survivors.”
The competition is part of the VA’s department-wide Innovation Initiative (VAi2) program that solicits the most promising innovations from the public and private sectors, entrepreneurs, non-profits, universities, and employees. Innovations are sought that increase veterans’ access to VA services, improve the quality of services delivered, enhance the performance of VA operations, and reduce or control the cost of delivering those services.
Innovations will be awarded that propose new ways to:
- Design innovative prosthetic sockets that improve the fit and comfort of prostheses.
- Leverage telemedicine solutions to provide audiology services to veterans who live far from medical centers.
- Create and implement enhancements or novel uses of VA’s “Blue Button” Personal Health Record.
- Fully automate sterilization of medical equipment.
- Empower veterans with self-management technologies for vocational rehabilitation.
This is the second Industry Competition launched by VAi2. The first two awards from the 2010 competition, totaling nearly $7 million, were announced in December, and the remaining awards will be announced on a rolling basis as contracts are finalized.
Submissions are due by noon EDT April 15, 2011. For more information, including how to submit proposals, visit www.va.gov/VAi2/OpenCompetitions.asp
