Philips Launches Start-Up AI Collaboration Program

Royal Philips (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) has launched its first global start-up collaboration program involving the company’s innovation hubs in Cambridge, US, Eindhoven, the Netherlands, Bangalore, India and Shanghai, China focused on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. The program focuses on the application of AI-based clinical decision support tools, such as image interpretation, analysis and integration, and workflow tools, such as intelligent treatment plans for radiology, ultrasound and oncology.

Philips aims to use a combination of AI and other technologies with knowledge of the clinical and operational context in which they are used – a people-centered approach that it refers to as ‘adaptive intelligence’. Its goal is to develop integrated solutions that adapt to the needs of healthcare providers and that are embedded into their workflows. In order to support the adoption of AI in key healthcare domains, Philips has developed an AI platform for healthcare - Philips HealthSuite Insights, which delivers healthcare-specific tools and technologies to address the full process of building, maintaining, deploying and scaling AI solutions. The tools and technologies available through HealthSuite Insights already enable the machine learning and deep learning applications in Philips’ diagnostic imaging solutions, telehealth solutions, and oncology and genomics offerings.

Philips has extended its collaboration programs to health technology start-ups and venture capital activities. Philips HealthWorks accelerates breakthrough innovation through internal venturing and external start-up engagement. The program enables Philips to assess, foster and monitor promising early stage start-up companies for potential future collaborations, as well as providing the company with an in-depth view of the most recent developments in health technology around the world.

Out of 750 applicants, Philips has selected the most promising 19 early stage start-ups for inclusion in the incubator program for start-up companies. During the intensive 12-week ‘AI in Healthcare for Radiology, Ultrasound and Oncology’ program, Philips will simultaneously engage with the start-ups from 14 different countries, in order to validate their propositions, help build, test and scale their ideas, and explore possible collaborations. The selected start-ups will benefit from Philips’ know-how and experience in the professional healthcare domain as well as gain access to expertise in the company’s innovation ecosystem comprising of hospital, academic, industry and financial partners.

“At Philips, we use intelligent technology to improve people’s health across the health continuum – from healthy living and prevention to diagnosis, treatment and home care – while also increasing the efficiency of healthcare delivery,” said Alberto Prado, Head of Philips Healthworks. “We are already working closely with clinical partners to develop AI-enabled solutions that are grounded in scientific research and validated in clinical practice. This new collaboration program recognizes the role that start-up companies play in bringing breakthrough healthcare innovations to the market.”