The CHI Start-up Enterprise Link (CHISEL) Healthcare InnoMatch 2026 is an initiative seeking innovative, market-ready or near market-ready solutions to address critical healthcare needs. Organised by the Centre of Healthcare Innovation (CHI), presented by Temasek Foundation, and supported by the Ministry of Health Singapore (MOH), the program serves as a cross-cluster platform for the Singapore public healthcare system. It aims to accelerate the adoption of solutions from start-ups and SMEs through a process that matches them with public healthcare needs, providing centralised funding and standardised evaluation to facilitate adoption.
Program Theme
• Theme: Enhancing Health through an AI and Tech-Enabled Workforce.
• Challenge Question: How might we leverage AI and tech-empowered solutions to transform our healthcare workforce to create a holistic care delivery system across all care settings and patient touchpoints that drives productivity gains, improves cost efficiency, and delivers significantly improved health outcomes for patients?
Eligibility Criteria
• Company Type: Open to Start-ups and SMEs, which may include research institutions and innovation units of enterprises if they are subsidiaries.
• Company Revenue: Annual revenue must be below Singapore Dollars One Hundred Million (SGD$100,000,000).
• Location: Open to both Singapore-based and international participants. Close relatives of anyone involved in the organisation and judging are not eligible.
• Company Status: Must not be in negotiation for an exit throughout the challenge and test-bedding phase.
• Solution Readiness: Must be at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 and beyond, or the equivalent. Proposals in early research, early MVPs, or development phases will not be accepted.
• Solution Focus: Must seek to deliver improved patient health outcomes and experience. Solutions relating to operational processes without a direct impact on patient outcomes will not be accepted.
• Test-bedding Location: Solutions may originate from within or outside Singapore but must be test-bedded and evaluated in one of the three partner healthcare clusters in Singapore.
• Regulatory Compliance: Solutions with relevant safety and regulatory compliance registration, approvals, or licensing will be preferred.
• Prior Validation: Solutions with prior demonstration of clinical efficacy or previous validation will be preferred.
Program Timeline
• Open Call (Application Stage 1): 12 February - 13 April.
• Eligibility Review: 6 April - 24 April. Up to 100 startups will be shortlisted.
• Application Stage 2: 26 April - 18 May, 17:00 SGT (GMT+8). Shortlisted startups submit their full proposal.
• Shortlisting Round 1: 18 May - 7 August. Due diligence is conducted, and around 20 startups will be selected.
• Shortlisting Round 2 & Engagement Sessions: 10 August - 4 September. Shortlisted startups present their projects to the review team and clinicians, with up to 10 selected.
• Coaching and Final Event Preparation: 7 September - 2 October. Finalist teams are paired with mentors to prepare for the Final Event.
• Final Event: 2 October 2026. Finalists will pitch to a judging panel.
Selection Criteria
• Healthcare (Organisational) Need & Relevance: Addresses an important healthcare problem, aligns with the challenge theme and national strategy, and is suitable for the partner healthcare clusters.
• Innovation: Demonstrates innovation and a competitive advantage over current solutions.
• Near Market or Market Ready: TRL 7+, prior clinical validation or implementation, and preferably has safety and regulatory compliance.
• Impact (quantifiable): Shows clear, impactful benefits to patients, the healthcare system, and environmental sustainability.
• Ease of Transition to Adopt by Users: Demonstrates ease of implementation into workflows and cost-effectiveness.
• Business Plan: Presents a feasible business plan, market strategy, affordability, and a well-structured team.
• Clinical, Technical and Operational Readiness: Shows potential for easy implementation and integration into PHI workflows, with necessary support infrastructure and expertise available.
• IT Viability: Assesses potential issues regarding compliance, regulatory matters, system integration, and sustainability of IT operating costs.
Prizes and Benefits
• Number of Winners: Up to six (6) winners will be selected.
• Funding: Each winning company will receive funding of up to Singapore Dollars Five Hundred Thousand (S$500,000) to cover costs related to the test-beds.
• Program Placement: A place in the CHI Start-up Enterprise Link program, which includes test-bedding the solution and collaboration with partner healthcare clusters.
• Validation and Adoption: Opportunity for cross-cluster evaluation, validation, and potential adoption by partner healthcare clusters.
Successful proposals will gain funding to demonstrate their solutions in operational settings and receive endorsement from partner healthcare clusters upon successful pilot implementation. The final selection will occur at the Final Event on 2 October 2026, where finalists will pitch to a panel of senior management and domain experts from partner clusters and organizations. The platform's ultimate goal is to bridge the market adoption gap, allowing patients earlier access to new and emerging healthcare innovations.