Penn Health-Tech Call for Proposals

APPLICATION OPENS SEPTEMBER 16, 2026

Apply to participate in Penn Health-Tech’s Health Tech Accelerator Program in 2027-2028.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Information Session

Join Penn Health-Tech for a virtual information session to learn more about the Health Tech Accelerator Program, application process, and selection criteria.

• Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
• Time: 12:00 PM ET
• Location: Zoom; registration required
• Registration Link: Click Here >>

Goal

The Health Tech Accelerator is a year-long, cohort-based program designed to accelerate the development of innovative health technologies through tailored advising and funding.

Projects may receive support for:

• Technical de-risking, such as prototype development and proof-of-concept testing
• Commercial de-risking, such as milestone planning and the development of clinical, regulatory, reimbursement, and commercialization strategies

The ultimate goal is to position projects for follow-on funding, commercialization, and broad healthcare impact.

Scope

We welcome proposals focused on developing medical devices and other health technologies that address unmet clinical needs. Proposed work must be translational and should advance research findings or novel ideas toward commercialization and societal benefit.

Note: Projects focused solely on early-stage discovery research will not be considered. These projects may be better suited for other mechanisms such as the IDEA Prize.

Projects addressing all unmet clinical needs are encouraged to apply. Areas of special interest include:

• MedTech: Medical devices, diagnostics, therapeutic technologies, clinical tools, and other technology-enabled solutions that improve healthcare delivery or patient outcomes
  
• Connected Health: Sensors, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and software as a medical device
• Pediatric Devices: Technologies designed to diagnose or treat diseases and conditions affecting patients from birth through age 21
• Surgery: Instruments and technologies supporting cardiovascular, neurological, orthopedic, and other surgical procedures

Eligibility

The lead applicant must be a faculty or staff member at the University of Pennsylvania or Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

Applicants may add collaborators who are not affiliated with Penn or CHOP. Collaborators may view, edit, and submit the application on behalf of the project team.

What Is Included in the Award?

• Funding ranging from $5,000 to $75,000, customized to the project’s needs, with the potential for additional funding based on project progress
• Hands-on advising to support project development
• Access to industry experts and complementary programs offering support with engineering and design, manufacturing, regulatory strategy, and reimbursement assessment
• Eligibility to participate in invite-only HTA Bootcamp

Useful Links

• Download a PDF preview of the application: Click here >>

Application Process

The application process begins with the submission of a pre-proposal. Following review and applicant interviews, selected teams will be invited to join the semifinalist cohort and participate in the HTA Bootcamp.

Through interactive sessions, semifinalist teams will refine their commercialization strategies and prepare competitive full proposals and pitch decks. After the full-proposal review, selected finalists will pitch their projects to a panel of experts for funding consideration.

*Exact dates for activities occurring in 2027 will be communicated when the semifinalist cohort is announced.

Review Process

HTA proposals are evaluated based on the team’s expertise and commitment and the project’s:

• Potential for impact
• Commercialization potential
• Technical feasibility
• Potential to attract follow-on funding or investment needed to bring the proposed solution into clinical use

Pre-proposals and full proposals will be reviewed by a panel composed of clinicians, investors, entrepreneurs, and experts in industrial research and development, intellectual property, and technology transfer.

Semifinalist notifications will be issued within six weeks of the pre-proposal application deadline. HTA award decisions will be announced by June 2027. Awards and the release of funds are contingent upon acceptance of the award terms and conditions.

Expectations of Awardees

Penn Health-Tech uses a hands-on, active approach to project management. Funding and project advancement are tied to the achievement of agreed-upon technical and commercial milestones.

Teams must be prepared to devote the time and resources necessary to advance their projects, participate actively in the program, and remain open to mentorship and guidance related to technology development and commercialization.

Budget and Use of Funds

The Health Tech Accelerator uses a stage-gate model of project management. Unlike a traditional grant, the full award amount is not guaranteed at the outset. Funding is released in tranches, with each release contingent upon the achievement of agreed-upon milestones.

Penn Health-Tech supports awarded projects through internal University of Pennsylvania funding mechanisms or by making direct payments for approved expenses and services. Funding is not issued directly to Penn startups. Direct payments may be made only to approved vendors with the required University contracts in place.

 Eligible Expenses

Funds may be used for:

• Salary and fringe benefits for project personnel other than the PI or Co-PIs
• Materials and supplies
• Consumable equipment, such as components used to build or test systems
• Human-subjects research expenses, such as IRB and participant-recruitment fees
• Consulting services related to regulatory strategy, reimbursement, market assessment, or other commercialization needs
  

Ineligible Expenses

Funds may not be used for:

• Salary or fringe benefits for the PI or Co-PIs
• Tuition
• Space or renovation costs
• Legal or intellectual property fees
• Indirect costs

HTA Boot Camp

Penn Health-Tech (PHT) hosts a strategic innovation education program (known as the HTA “Boot Camp”), teaching the basics of commercialization of technologies developed in academic settings, with application to your specific project. The goal of the Boot Camp is to support the development of a high-quality translational proposal and pitch for funding consideration by PHT and other future partners.  

Expectations: Enrollment in the Boot Camp is optional for teams that are invited to submit a full proposal to PHT. However, if teams decide to enroll in the Boot Camp, participation is mandatory, including committing to sending a team representative to each session.