Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst Announces Inaugural Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards
BATON ROUGE, LA. (February 2, 2022) — The Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst, a Baton Rouge Health District project funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Build to Scale Program, announced its inaugural Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards.
The goal of the project is to promote and support collaboration between Health District member institutions, while sparking innovation between Baton Rouge Health District anchor institutions, technology and community innovators, and industry leaders. Awards will provide up to $30,000 for Health District member institution investigators, providers, and employees.
“With the generous support of the EDA and in conjunction with our partners at BRAC and Pennington, we are excited to offer this opportunity for our Baton Rouge Health District member institutions,” said Dr. Steven Ceulemans, Baton Rouge Health District Executive Director. “This initiative will create a launchpad to strengthen innovation, increase a culture of health, and make Baton Rouge a destination for healthcare at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community.”
With funding from the EDA – Build to Scale Program, the Baton Rouge Health District recently established the Baton Rogue Health-Tech Catalyst in collaboration with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) and Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
The Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards will support collaborative proposals for novel approaches to further the Health District priorities of:
• Healthy Place - to be a vibrant and accessible destination that promotes health living beyond the hospital walls.
• Health Education and Workforce - to be a center for advanced education, clinical practice, and workforce development in healthcare.
• Health Innovation and Research - provide a platform for innovation and research partnerships that improve health outcomes and contribute to care advancement through technology adoption and development.
• Healthcare Coalition - to be a model for resource coordination to facilitate patient-centric, valuedriven care.
An informational webinar will be held February 23 at 9 a.m. and the initial letter of intent is due March 12 at 5 p.m. For more information and to access application materials, visit www.brhealthdistrict.com/launchpad.
