Plug and Play partners with Department of Health Abu Dhabi to launch MENA’s first health startup accelerator

Plug and Play, the word’s largest global innovation platform for startup, is joining forces with Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DOH) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), to establish the first Health startup accelerator in the MENA region. The accelerator program will support healthcare startups by connecting them to networks of corporate partners and investors to test and implement their technologies.

Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 25 locations globally giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 10,000 startups and 280 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries.

Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Director of Healthcare Quality Division at Department of Health Abu Dhabi, said: “Quality remains at the heart of everything we do at DOH and technology is becoming a key driver for improving the quality of healthcare delivered in the emirate. To that end, DOH is looking to attract startups from across the globe to take part in solving current healthcare challenges by finding a way of technology solutions whilst also helping them to establish an adequate regulatory framework for testing and implementing technologies.”

Al Mannaei added: “We are excited about our partnership with Plug and Play, which will support healthcare startups, enabling them to translate their ideas into a reality that brings an elevated level of quality, paving the way for the transformation of the healthcare sector in the Emirate and beyond.”

Plug and Play’s global health program has accelerated over 100 startups in partnership with more than 20 corporations, operating in Silicon Valley, Cleveland, Munich, Shanghai, Kyoto, and now Abu Dhabi. Some of its notable corporate partners include Cleveland Clinic, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Roche, Philips, Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim, and University Hospitals.

“Abu Dhabi’s vision to become a globally recognized knowledge based economy emphasizes the importance of innovation as a key driver. We are extremely proud to announce our newest partnership with Department of Health Abu Dhabi to support Abu Dhabi, the UAE, and the wider region in sourcing and scaling healthcare technologies, leveraging Plug and Play’s international network and footprint,” said Omeed Mehrinfar, Managing Partner, Middle East, at Plug and Play.

The healthcare sector is evolving at a rapid pace, and continues to undergo significant changes in technology and care delivery models. Innovation is paramount to foster a more complex, holistic view of patient health generated from a wide variety of sources.

The health accelerator program in Abu Dhabi will start in Q1 2020 with a Selection Day event featuring international and regional startup pitches sourced by Plug and Play’s ventures team.

The Department of Health – (DOH) is the regulatory body of the Healthcare Sector at the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and ensures excellence in Healthcare for the community by monitoring the health status of the population.