Spark Innovation Programme
Spark knows that it is people and not just good ideas that make meaningful improvements a success. If you have noticed a problem in your clinical area, whether you have an solution already or not, and if you are interested in learning about how to use healthcare design principals to improve your unit/hospital/etc. we want to hear from you!
After learning about design and innovation, Spark Innovators will have the opportunity to pitch for micro-funding for their own project (up to €3,000 available per individual or group).
Applications for individual and group projects open August 16th 2021!
We welcome ideas from a range of innovators, all nursing and midwifery, health and social care professionals and doctors are encouraged to apply. We will help you to develop your projects which are affordable, feasible, bring value to your service and have the potential to be scaled up. Funding is awarded on a once-off basis.
There are three steps involved in Spark Seed Funding:
1. Online application (See below)
2. Design Thinking Workshop and process of solution development
3. Opportunity to pitch for support (the pitch will likely be on a separate day to the workshop to allow for time to develop your pitch and project)
Due to the popularity of Seed Funding, only shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend our Design Thinking Workshop. Attendance at a workshop is mandatory to receive funding but doesn’t guarantee that funding will be offered.
You can apply by yourself or as part of a group interested in learning about innovation
1. Individual Innovator Applications
NCHDs, HSCPs, nurses and midwives are invited to submit applications for funding for projects led by individuals. The most promising applications will be shortlisted to attend a workshop to develop their problem and potential solutions and later invited to do a pitch presentation. Funding will be allocated to the strongest projects.
2. Group Innovator Applications
Multidisciplinary team applications are highly encouraged. Applications for funding are open to groups that contain at least one NCHD, one nurse or midwife or one HSCP and one other healthcare professional. The teams will also be invited to attend a workshop to develop their idea using the principles of design.
Apply Here
If you need help further developing your idea or have any questions about the initiative, please contact spark@hse.ie
Application requirements:
All applications must be made online using the online application form. The application form asks you to think about problems you have encountered and how you go about solving such problems with a human-centred approach. You do not have to have a fully thought out solution to apply for funding, we hope that through the process and from what you learn at the workshop if selected, that the solution will have evolved from what you might have thought before.
Applications will be shortlisted based on the following criteria:
• Quality of application, ability to convey their answers succinctly and with impact
• Display an eagerness to learn about the principles of healthcare design and innovation
• Willingness to develop / change a current idea they have based on what is taught at the workshop
• Collaboration/stakeholder involvement
• Previous recipients of Spark Seed Funding can apply again with a new project in mind or for new phases of previous projects.
Applications for this round of Spark Seed Funding will close on Friday 24th September 2021. Please follow us on Twitter @ProgrammeSpark or Instagram@spark_programme and watch this space for our next funding calls!
If you have any questions about Spark Seed Funding please email spark@hse.ie and we will
get back to you as soon as we can.
Be sure to follow us on Social Media for the latest updates and deadlines! Good Luck!
Spark Innovation Programme – HSE webpage: CLICK HERE