Janssen Korea Ltd. and Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC, in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), have announced the awardees of the Seoul Innovation QuickFire Challenge in Smart Healthcare at the Seoul Biomedical International Conference.

The awardees, ImagoWorks and Sibel, Inc., will receive combined grant funding totaling KRW150,000,000 (approximately US$134,000), one year of residency at the Seoul Bio Hub, one year of mentorship and coaching from experts in science, technology and commercialization by the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies as well as access to the JLABS global entrepreneurial community.

• ImagoWorks: Seoul-based ImagoWorks, a KIST spin-off company, applies artificial intelligence and geometrical modeling technology in its innovative 3D medical/dental software platform aiming to improve surgical outcomes.
• Sibel, Inc.: Illinois-based Sibel, Inc. is developing breakthrough, bio-integrated sensors with the potential to allow for full vital signs monitoring in patients of all ages and sizes.

"The Asia Pacific region is a hotbed of innovation, and entrepreneurs focused on the life sciences face many hurdles when working to bring their ideas through to commercialization," said Sharon Chan, Head of JLABS @ Shanghai, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS. "The aim of the Seoul Innovation QuickFire Challenge in Smart Healthcare is to identify and help to accelerate promising early-stage health tech innovations with the potential to make a long-lasting, positive impact on health. With our collaborators, we aim to provide these innovators with the resources and mentoring needed to advance their ideas into breakthrough solutions for patients in Korea and around the world."

The Seoul Innovation QuickFire Challenge in Smart Healthcare was launched in July 2019 to encourage global entrepreneurs, researchers, students, and innovators to submit ideas for the following technology-enabled innovation areas:

• Big data, artificial intelligence, blockchain
• 3D printing, Internet of Things (IoT), sensors, wearables
• Personalized medicine, companion diagnostics

"The quality of the QuickFire Challenge applications we received reflects the tremendous innovative spirit and breadth of expertise within the life science ecosystem across Korea," said Jenny Zheng, Area Managing Director, Janssen North Asia. "We are proud to name ImagoWorks and Sibel Inc. the Smart Healthcare QuickFire Challenge awardees and look forward to supporting their health tech innovations."

The QuickFire Challenges are managed by Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS, a "no strings-attached" global network of incubators, and seek to empower and enable groundbreaking science and health solutions.