The competition welcomes companies from the Nordics that have developed an app or digital health product addressing solutions for preventative care, home care, or clinical/hospital care. Participation is free, offering an incredible opportunity to showcase your innovation.
Five technologies will be selected as finalists by a jury.
The top 3 will be provided with a free assessment against the Nordic Digital Health and Evaluation Criteria (NordDEC) and entry onto the Nordic Digital Health Platform, a library designed to help healthcare professionals, patients and citizens identify safe, effective technologies in order to improve health outcomes.
From the finalists, the jury will select a winner who will be invited to present its solution in Iceland at one of Nordic Innovation's events related to Arctic Circle 2024, and thereby get exposure to a Nordic audience.
Application deadline: 31 March
Participation is free!
Read about Nordic Health App Award 2023
Entry conditions
To ensure a fair and competitive process, participants must adhere to the following entry conditions:
- Digital health solutions must be available for download/use in at least one Nordic country
- Solutions must have been updated or upgraded within the last 18 months to be eligible
- Participants must agree to pass a NordDEC assessment before any public announcement
- Participants must agree to the competition timeline, including deadlines for assessment submissions
- Winners must demonstrate a minimum score of 65% on the ORCHA Baseline Review for a chance to pass the NordDEC assessment
- Participants are allowed one re-assessment if unsuccessful initially
FAQ's
What is the primary objective of the Nordic Health App Award 2024?
The competition aims to celebrate the rapidly growing Nordic app industry and stimulate a more sustainable healthcare system in line with the ambition of the Nordic Health vision, while at the same time highlighting the Nordic Digital Health Evaluation Criteria (NordDEC) and the Nordic digital health platform, promoting excellence in digital health solutions.
How many health apps will be recognized and what are the certifications?
Five Nordic health apps will be selected as finalists. The top three finalists will receive certification based on NordDEC, delivered by the globally recognised digital health assessment provider, ORCHA.
What are they key entry conditions for participating?
Digital health solutions must be available for download/use in at least one Nordic country, undergo a NordDEC assessment before public announcement, adhere to the competition timeline, and have been updated or upgraded within the last 18 months.
Can a solution be re-assessed if it is unsuccessfull in the initial assessment?
Yes, participants are allowed one re-assessment if they do not succeed in the initial assessment.
What is the role of Orcha in the competition?
As the NordDEC partner and service provider, the assessments will be conducted by the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA). ORCHA is a strategic partner, contributing to the competition by setting entry conditions, conducting assessments, and providing expert insights for the judging process.
How will the Finalists/winners be announced and what are their opportunities?
All 5 finalists will be announced during Nordic Innovation's program at Arendalsuka, the Norwegian Democracy Festival, in August 2024. The final winner will be invited to present its solution in Iceland at one of Nordic Innovation's events related to Arctic Circle 2024, and thereby get exposure to a Nordic audience.
The top 3 finalists will be featured in a showcase booklet published by Nordic Innovation in autumn, highlighting their solutions and experiences with NordDEC accreditation.
What is the timeline?
Applications are open from 1. February 2024. Deadline is 31 March 2024. Finalists will be announced during Arendalsuka, the Norwegian Democracy Festival, in August 2024. The detailed timeline for submission and assessments will be communicated on a case-by-case basis.
Can Solutions that are not available for download in one of the nordic countries participate in the competition?
No, solutions that are not available for download in one of the five Nordic countries will not be able to participate.
What if the solutions has already scored less than 65 against the orcha baseline review?
Solutions that have already scored less than 65 against the ORCHA Baseline Review will regrettably not be considered for assessment against the NordDEC.
Why is having CE marking not sufficient to participate in the competition?
While CE marking indicates compliance with European Union regulations, the Nordic Health App Award goes beyond this by specifically evaluating digital health solutions against criteria that have been explicitly identified as important to healthcare systems interested in adopting and activating digital health technology. Aligned to the approaches taken by other countries across Europe, including the UK, France, Germany, Belgium and the pan-European ISO 82304-2 project, the criteria considers nuances and requirements tailored to the Nordic context as well as the concerns and barriers identified by healthcare professionals, patients and citizens.
How can digital health suppliers ensure compliance with the competition requirements and timelines?
Suppliers are encouraged to carefully review the provided documentation, follow the entry conditions, and stay updated on the competition timeline communicated on a case-by-case basis. In case of challenges, cooperation with ORCHA is essential for proposing remedial actions.
For more information about the competition, please contact: Anders Tunold-Hanssen: anders@brandmark.no
Project partner
The Nordic Health App Award is developed in collaboration with N!P (The Nordic Interoperability Project).
Background
The Nordic Health App Award is supported under the Life Science and Health Tech program which is one of the eight initiatives launched by the five Nordic Ministers of Trade and Industry. The aim of the program is to strengthen the Nordic companies' opportunities in the field of life science and health technology to create societal benefit and new products and solutions for the citizens.
