IMDA and NUH launch public healthcare open innovation partnership
Singapore s Infocomm Media Development Authority partners with National University Hospital to launch their first open innovation platform project addressing operational hospital challenges
On October 28, 2026, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the National University Hospital (NUH) signed a Memorandum of Intent, establishing a pioneering Open Innovation Platform (OIP) partnership between the two entities. This collaboration aims to expedite healthcare innovation by bridging the gap between the real-world challenges faced by medical professionals and the technological solutions provided by innovators.
Established in April 2024, the Kent Ridge Office of Innovation (KROI) at NUH collaborates with clinical and operational teams to pinpoint areas where technological advancements can improve patient care, enhance the patient experience, and boost operational efficiency. With over 21,000 innovators and solution providers in its network, including startups, technology firms, and research institutions, this partnership leverages IMDA's OIP capabilities to address critical healthcare needs.
By concentrating on the requirements outlined by healthcare professionals instead of solely on technological solutions, NUH can effectively harness the expertise of the OIP network to identify, assess, and pilot promising solutions within a real-world hospital setting. The partnership has already initiated its first healthcare-themed innovation challenge, inviting AI-enabled solutions designed to detect fall risks in patients' homes more efficiently and at scale, with the Call for Applications (CFAs) closing in November 2026.
Since its inception in 2018, IMDA's OIP has launched over 450 innovation challenges, supporting more than S$25 million in prize funding to facilitate the integration of external technological expertise into business and operational requirements. Dr Ling Zheng Jye, Head of the Kent Ridge Office of Innovation, emphasized that healthcare innovation becomes most impactful when it directly addresses real-world needs.
Through the Open Innovation Platform, NUH can engage a broad community of innovators to tackle identified challenges, fostering the development and testing of solutions that benefit both patients and healthcare professionals. Alvin Kang, Director of Innovation at IMDA, highlighted the strategic alignment of this partnership with Singapore's National AI Strategy, aiming to create opportunities for technology companies to apply their expertise to real clinical and operational challenges.
The collaboration seeks to transform promising innovations into practical solutions that enhance healthcare delivery. The IMDA-NUH partnership expands on KROI's ongoing efforts to strengthen ties within Singapore's innovation ecosystem, including collaborations with institutions like the National University of Singapore and academic publisher Elsevier, alongside the recent launch of the NUH Innovation Hub.
This hub supports the development, evaluation, and implementation of staff-led innovations, such as MedBot, NUH's AI-powered virtual pharmacy assistant. The success of this collaboration is expected to lead to regular innovation challenges throughout the year, scheduled for March, July, and October, providing technology innovators with more avenues to develop and pilot solutions in response to NUH's priority healthcare areas, thus fostering deeper collaboration between healthcare providers and industry stakeholders.
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