Annual Report 2017 ┃ Innovation
Expanding the AO’s innovation framework Backed by a 60-year innovation legacy built on the insights and bold innovations of experienced surgeons committed to promoting excellence in the treatment of trauma and musculoskeletal disorders, the AO Foundation expanded its legendary innovation engine with the launch of AO Development Incubator (AODI) activities. Established in 2016, the AODI represents a springboard for innovations outside of the domain of the AO’s industrial partners and serves to unleash a world of innovation potential for improving patient outcomes. The AODI funds selected inventors to build and execute their projects toward a proof of concept and valorization, with the AO and the inventor sharing project development and generated value. Managed by a board representing both the medical and industrial worlds, the AODI in 2017 conducted two calls for proposals generating 124 applications from around the world. Proposed innovations ranged from implants to 3-D printing projects and virtual simulations. Two proposals from the first call were approved in 2017 and the selection process of the second call is expected to be finalized in the second quarter of 2018. Building on an existing innovation legacy The AODI builds on and extends the AO’s existing innovation framework, which began with the 1961 establishment of the AO Technical Commission (AOTK). The AOTK, an organization of medical-technical committees, is responsible for development and clinical testing of devices–as well as the educational concepts around them–developed by the AO in collaboration with its industrial partners. The AO’s innovation infrastructure was further expanded in 2013 with the launch of the AO Strategy Fund (AOSF), which supports a wide range of projects submitted by AO employees and members. These projects include new services and technologies that enhance the AO’s visibility and reach, foster cooperation across clinical divisions, and boost operational effectiveness and efficiency. The AODI can serve as the next possible step toward proof of concept and valorization upon completion of AOSF projects. Another critical component in the AO innovation continuum is AO Invest, which invests in start-ups that advance patient care through innovative medical products and services applied in orthopedic and trauma surgery. The current portfolio includes two companies: Touch Surgery‘s interactive mobile surgical simulator guides the user step-by-step through every part of an operation and every decision made along the way, and Augmedics‘ augmented reality head-mounted display allows surgeons to “see” inside a patient’s anatomy, through skin and tissue, resulting in easier, faster and safer surgeries. AO Invest continues to seek out startups that deliver truly disruptive innovation. Activities ahead in 2018 The AODI’s planning includes two calls for proposals in 2018: March and September. Additionally, development of an AO innovation platform is in the works to ensure alignment of AOTK, AOSF, AODI, and AO Invest work to exploit of their synergies, spurring more innovation to further advance patient care.
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